Page 2493 - Week 09 - Tuesday, 6 August 2013
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without being accosted by gambling interests. This gives rise to some problems which policymakers need to turn their minds to. The increasing presence of gambling advertising in sport, and especially the inclusion of bookmaking figures in commentary teams, really blurs the line between sports and gambling. We need to think about how this might affect viewers and, in particular, young viewers.
Members would be aware that this has been the subject of some federal attention already, and I think this has been led very responsibly by my federal Greens colleague Senator Richard Di Natale. Senator Di Natale initiated a parliamentary inquiry into gambling advertisements in sport, which reported in June. Unfortunately, the majority committee, constituted by the Labor and Liberal parties, baulked at taking strong action. The federal Greens and independents recommended legislating to end a loophole that allows gambling ads during kids’ viewing times. Industry self-regulation simply will not cut it in this arena.
It is a strong point of difference between the Greens and the other parties. Just like the issue of pokies reform, we are determined to stand up and ensure we protect those things that need protecting, like sport, children and our community life, from the often negative impacts of gambling. Of course, these broader gambling issues will continue to be a subject of debate at the federal level as well as in this chamber.
Returning to the focus of today’s bill, as I said, the Greens will support it. The reality is that sports betting unfortunately must deal with the issue of cheating. Match fixing damages the integrity of sports. It is a sad reality that match fixing seems to arise in some permutation in practically every sport. Even Japan has been rocked by match fixing in sumo wrestling, a sport which is premised on an incredibly strong code of honour and ethics. Those scandals have caused a lot of sadness and soul-searching in Japan.
In Australia, the Australian Crime Commission has been investigating match fixing in Australian sport. The head of the Australian Crime Commission, John Lawler, said that match fixing is the single biggest problem facing Australian sport. He said that media zealotry over identifying players or clubs guilty of using performance enhancing and illicit drugs has distracted from the end problem of criminality and match fixing.
Australians love their sport and it is ingrained in our culture. I can only imagine the shock and distress throughout Australia if serious match fixing begins to pervade sports. In addition, of course, match fixing is a fraudulent crime, essentially the same as any other type of fraud. It can cause harm, such as financial harm, to individuals and the community.
So it is appropriate to regulate match fixing and to criminalise the fraudulent behaviour associated with it. I hope and expect that these new offences, which I understand will be paralleled across all other states and territories, will contribute to addressing match fixing and ensuring that ACT and Australian sports retain integrity.
MR CORBELL (Molonglo—Attorney-General, Minister for Police and Emergency Services, Minister for Workplace Safety and Industrial Relations and Minister for the
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