Page 4684 - Week 13 - Tuesday, 10 November 2009
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MS HUNTER (Ginninderra—Parliamentary Convenor, ACT Greens) (10.14): The Greens support what this bill endeavours to do, which is to promote consumer protection, minimise the possibility of criminal or unethical activity and reduce the risks and costs to the community of problem gambling.
The Greens understand that in order to implement these undertakings a review of the current legislation was required. This bill before us today will bring together unlawful gaming and unlawful betting provisions by replacing the existing Unlawful Games Act 1984 and two other outdated acts, the Games, Wagers and Betting Houses Act 1901 and the Gaming and Betting Act 1906.
The Greens are pleased to see that the provisions of the bill were developed following a public review of the Unlawful Games Act 1984 by the Gambling and Racing Commission and that the government accepted all of the commission’s recommendations.
The commission identified that the Unlawful Games Act 1984 required review as it had become outdated, did not address a number of current gaming issues and was unclear in some of its provisions. The new bill is clear in its intent that all gambling is unlawful except to the extent that is permitted under this bill or another gaming law. The Greens welcome that this bill clarifies the concepts of unlawful gaming and unlawful betting, provides for the control of public gaming tournaments outside the casino, clarifies that private gaming in private homes is allowed and provides for approved charitable fundraising through games under certain circumstances.
The Greens can support this bill as we have long believed that any measures that minimise the risks of problem gambling are a positive step. I do take on board the comments from Mr Seselja that we have a long way to go with the harms of gambling, and we will continue to be part of that debate. We support the commission’s findings that public gaming tournaments outside the casino continue to be prohibited for both regulatory and social reasons. This recognises the risks of introducing the provision of poker tournaments outside the casino—that the risks associated with introducing this form of gambling into the territory outweigh the possible benefits.
The Greens welcome the new oversights and controls on unlawful gambling. The harm from problem gambling is well documented, and of course we are not immune from this issue here in the territory. The Greens will be supporting this bill today.
MS BURCH (Brindabella—Minister for Disability, Housing and Community Services, Minister for Ageing, Minister for Multicultural Affairs and Minister for Women) (10.17): The Unlawful Gambling Bill will replace the existing Unlawful Games Act 1984 and two other outdated acts, the Games, Wagers and Betting Houses Act 1901 and the Gaming and Betting Act 1906. It brings together unlawful gaming and unlawful betting provisions into one act and will be a fundamental piece of legislation that controls gambling in the territory.
This government takes seriously the issues of problem gambling within the community and the particular vulnerability of children and young people to gambling
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