Page 5427 - Week 15 - Tuesday, 8 December 2009
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Basically, what jurisdictions do is sell the information that is involved in their race field. That in the ACT will bring something like $1.5 million back into the industry, which, of course, will be a good thing, given that at this stage they are paying $2.5 million in the other direction. The legislation seems simple. It is interesting to note that the minister will be bringing in some amendments. Apparently when I brought amendments forward to my bill just three weeks ago, that was a bad thing and showed some flaws in the bill, but clearly when the minister does it then—
Mrs Dunne: But we know this minister cannot write, cannot count.
MR SMYTH: We did know that the minister could not count, but apparently now the minister may not be able to read or write. I am sure he will explain that when he stands up. It does show that legislation is evolving. When you get sort of trite responses from the minister over people moving amendments to their bill, it is hard to stand here and just raise with him gently the need to amend legislation.
That said, having seen the amendments, they seem reasonable. Again, I spoke to the organisations that have an interest in this bill. Some of them were also concerned with the consultation that had been undertaken. At least one group said that they had not seen a final draft of the bill. It is well and good to put a draft out into the field, so to speak, but when there are amendments that affect industry and when the final bills have gone though cabinet, perhaps I could suggest to the minister that it might be appropriate for them to go back out to those groups and say, “This is the final format that has got through.” I mean, if you are serious about consultation, to consult on a document and then change it, and not tell people that you have changed it, would seem to be rather a waste of the consultation.
That said, the minister provided me with a briefing and I thank the staff for the briefing. It was very informative. It clearly outlined the need for the bill and the way forward. With that in mind, the opposition will be supporting the bill.
MS BRESNAN (Brindabella) (11.21): The ACT Greens will be supporting this amendment to the Racing Act 1999. We understand that the ACT is currently paying fees to interstate racing bodies for the right to wager on their racing products. This legislation will allow the ACT racing industry to charge similar fees from betting operators across Australia for betting on ACT racing products.
The amendment will allow all authorised betting operators to use the ACT racing information, provided they have approval and have paid a fee based on a percentage of the betting operator’s net revenue. This scheme is similar to those established in other jurisdictions.
The minister, Mr Barr, in tabling this amendment on 19 November 2009, indicated this reform was part of the ACT government’s plan to secure funding from the ACT budget and that the changing nature of the betting industry meant that the ACT racing industry funding is under threat. New entrants to the wagering market are necessitating changes to the system.
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