Page 5526 - Week 13 - Wednesday, 17 November 2010
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manner that will ensure that the best value for money is achieved. The commission will also report annually on the activities of the fund as part of their annual report. I am satisfied that the administration of the problem gambling fund is consistent with the commission’s functions as outlined in the Gambling and Racing Control Act 1999 and that the scheme will not prove to be administratively burdensome for the commission or the industry.
However, regardless of its positive elements, I feel that the percentage of gross gaming machine revenue that this bill will mandate is too high. This does not diminish the need for an amendment of this nature, however, and, accordingly, the government supports the bill in principle. I intend to adjourn the debate today and bring back some detailed amendments in the next sitting. When it comes to that debate in detail, I can foreshadow that the government will move amendments to this bill that will lower the level of gaming machine licensees’ contributions to the mandatory problem gambling assistance levy from 0.75 to 0.6 per cent. This represents a difference of about $300,000 per year in the levy, which the government feels is a more reasonable and responsible requirement for clubs, bearing in mind that they currently pay around $400,000 per annum for problem gambling programs.
Unamended, the bill before us today would see an increase to $1.3 million per annum. Under the government’s proposal I foreshadow today, this will instead rise to $1 million per annum. In addition, I foreshadow that the government proposes to bring forward a wider ranging package of reforms. Without exhaustively covering the detail of this package this morning, I can say in outline that it will consist of four elements.
Firstly, the government will investigate requiring other gaming operators, such as Casino Canberra and ACTTAB, to contribute to the gambling assistance fund in the future. Secondly, the government will increase the required percentage of community contributions from seven per cent to eight per cent of net gaming machine revenue. Thirdly, the government will allow multivenue club groups to transfer gaming machines internally, subject to the social impact and needs assessment currently outlined in the Gaming Machine Act 2004. Finally, and most importantly, we will reduce the maximum number of allowed gaming machines in the ACT—what is known as the cap—by 143 from 5,200 to 5,057. In effect, this measure will remove all gaming machines available in the gaming machine pool.
I think the reform package just foreshadowed is more comprehensive than the bill before us today. Ultimately, it will complement the bill before us today. I commend Ms Hunter for preparing this amendment bill and encourage colleagues in the Assembly to consider supporting a broader package of reforms that the government will bring forward in due course.
Debate interrupted in accordance with standing order 74 and the resumption of the debate made an order of the day for a later hour.
Sitting suspended from 12.19 to 2 pm.
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