Page 2560 - Week 08 - Thursday, 30 June 2005
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the concern that the strategy will not fully take into account nature conservation values. The issues and debates around the impacts of certain recreational activities and their impacts on the ACT nature reserve system have been ongoing for a number of years. It remains vital that nature conservation values are not compromised. Just this week we saw ACT Forests very concerned about the impact of four-wheel drive vehicle recreation over the weekend on the roads and so on in an important catchment area.
With regard to sport I am pleased to see the government’s support for programs such as kids-at-play and athletes in schools that encourage children and youth to maintain healthy diets and remain active. I hope to see the government continue to expand these programs in the future so they meet the community’s level of demand.
Referring to gambling and racing, in considering the detail of the budget I have become conscious that the ACT government receives considerable revenue from the gaming industry. A rough estimate of income from gambling taxes, licensing fees for the casino and dividends from ACTTAB is in the order of $37 million. The summary investment in the gaming sector, such as the operating costs of the Gaming and Racing Commission and racing development projects such as track and facilities upgrading, is to the tune of $800,000 in 2004-05, but the level of investment in preventing and responding to problem gambling and social harm resulting from gambling is relatively low.
I acknowledge that the government has done important work in developing a code of practice for gambling providers, but I think there is much more that can be done. The government has commissioned a number of significant research projects into problem gambling through the ANU Centre for Gambling Research, including research into adolescent gambling in the ACT and help-seeking by problem gamblers, friends and families, with a focus on gender and cultural groups. Yet there seems to be a lack of follow up, with no additional resources directed to prevention or intervention in problem gambling.
Turning now to the Stadiums Authority, I am concerned that the officer representing Canberra Stadium during the estimates hearing had very little idea that Canberra Stadium is not expected to meet all safety standards until mid-2008. The stadium’s safety standard was also an issue in the 2004-05 hearings. I hope to see the stadium meet all required safety standards at least by the proposed date of 2008. It is my understanding from what we have seen in the budget that the minister for economic development takes a somewhat narrow view of economic development—that is if we take this budget as an indicator. I will take my second ten minutes, if I may, Mr Speaker. We see a reliance on tourism, gambling, racing and big events, as well as landmark developments such as arboreta and drag racing, which I think at best are a bit of a gamble in themselves, because I do not think a failed arboretum is going to bring very many tourists.
We also know that there is a heavy dependence in the territory on land sales and development. I believe we have a lot of scope for a different kind of development. I have argued elsewhere—in this house and even with the minister—that a focus on developing sustainable buildings and design, grey water recycling and a whole lot of other things will create the industries we need, provide jobs for classes of people who I believe do not easily find work at the moment and provide scope for graduates from some of the courses in our universities and the innovative thinkers we have in this town. This is an area that I believe is ripe for development.
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