Page 404 - Week 02 - Tuesday, 18 March 2014
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I understand the bill was developed in consultation with the ACT Racing and Gambling Commission; however, it is disappointing to note there was no consultation with the industry. It seems odd that a bill that seeks to provide the framework for the industry and to provide certainty to the industry did not seek the industry’s advice. In fact, it was my initial consultation with the racing industry that alerted them to the minister’s bill. Fancy that—the opposition doing the government’s job again!
There are issues with this bill and I note the Standing Committee on Justice and Community Safety in its scrutiny report of 18 February reported approximately 44 amendments they thought would be required around issues of a conferral of administrative powers, reasonable grounds for exercising powers, and trespass on personal rights and liberties. Of the 44 recommended amendments, the government agreed to approximately 10 and partially to two, amendments which have been circulated by the minister.
We have, yet again, another bill Ms Burch has brought forward to this place that has needed rapid and necessary amendment. It does not give one a great deal of confidence that the carriage of any bill by this minister will get through without amendment. I suspect we will be back again when the approximately 30 issues that were not addressed are addressed. When we raised these issues with officials they were confident the bill did not need amendment and that it was right to be debated in February. Of course, it was not debated in February because it needed amendment.
This is an important issue for the industry and the treatment of the industry by this government is nothing short of capricious. Again, I refer to the debate in November last year where we raised a number of issues. Some of these perhaps will not be addressed in this bill, but there are still outstanding issues. As the sale of ACTTAB edges inextricably closer, we are still yet to hear from the government on what it is they will do to address the issues raised by the thoroughbred industry.
The industry’s preferred outcome is as follows: the sale of ACTTAB’s business with a condition that ensures appropriate funding for the ACT racing industry’s products; the sale of ACTTAB to a major wagering operator with the highest level of integrity and racing industry understanding; funding arrangements broadly consistent with other jurisdictions to ensure the ACT’s racing industry’s viability and maintenance of parity with prize money with interstate clubs; funding arrangements that allow the racing industry to be self-reliant and sustainable long term; and appropriate transition and/or support arrangements for ACTTAB staff.
When you have got a minister who is not even consulting with the industry on the bill that will dictate their future, it is very hard to have any confidence that we will get it right. Let’s face it, the government has been aware since coming into office that the value of ACTTAB has been declining and was probably not viable as a government-owned entity. The Treasurer is on the record as saying back on 27 September last year:
Look at what’s happened in this market around the country and the world. There are significant technological changes, use of smartphones and tablets and other devices. The sorts of investments that are required are significant.
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