Page 3326 - Week 09 - Wednesday, 19 August 2009
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Commission as a regulatory body with regard to the issuing and monitoring of gaming machine licences to investigate all aspects of the proposed sale of assets by Canberra Labor Club Ltd and if Canberra Labor Club Ltd is complying with all aspects of the Gaming Machine Act 2004.
The Greens also acknowledge that the ACT Gambling and Racing Commission is an independent body with responsibility for investigating and conducting inquiries into the activities of persons in relation to gaming and racing. I understand that the Treasurer informed the Assembly on 18 August 2009 that she referred correspondence received by her regarding the proposed sale of property held by the Canberra Labor Club Ltd to the Gambling and Racing Commission. However, the Greens feel very strongly that there needs to be a more robust request to the commission to investigate any possible breaches of the Gaming Machine Act, and my amendment reflects this.
The issues raised in the Canberra Times and the Australian newspapers are extremely serious, and the Greens will be watching this issue very closely until we have some resolution of the claims.
MR SMYTH (Brindabella) (11.56): This is a very important motion, because it talks about the separation of powers. We have had debate, for those that were not here in the last couple of Assemblies, about standing order 156 where it talks about conflict of interest. We have had in this place before, much to my dismay, debates where beneficiaries of the outcome of those debates in regard to poker machines sit opposite. We know that the Labor club funds Labor Party campaigns. It has a direct interest in this, and yet unlike Paul Osborne, who always stood aside when issues of poker machines were raised, because he worked for a club as a coach—
Mr Corbell: Point of order, Mr Speaker.
MR SESELJA: Can we stop the clock, Mr Speaker?
MR SPEAKER: Yes, stop the clock.
Mr Corbell: Mr Speaker, the accusation of a conflict of interest is really something that I think has been discussed in this place for some time. Previous Speakers have ruled that, if members of this place believe that members have a conflict of interest, they cannot simply assert it; they need to move it by some form of substantive motion. If Mr Smyth believes that is the case, he should move a motion to that effect rather than simply make an assertion. It is, in effect, an imputation on me and all the other members of the government, of the Labor Party, and it is disorderly in that respect.
MR SPEAKER: Thank you, Mr Corbell. I acknowledge the point that you are making. Mr Smyth, I am sure you can continue your speech in a suitable manner.
MR SMYTH: I certainly will. In fact, I was just going over the history of it, but I note the touchiness. If we have any doubt about it, the Chief Minister himself said so in the Canberra Times on 30 July when he said words including:
It would be bizarre in the extreme if the Labor Party, as the owner of an asset …
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