Page 2272 - Week 08 - Tuesday, 12 August 2014
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Gambling and Racing Commission will work with them to ensure that only people who are appropriate get the licences for both. We will have to await that outcome, which is due later this year.
The other issue that we discussed was the cap on poker machines. The allocation at the moment is 4,970. There are 50 machines unallocated. But the commission was unable to give us any indication of when the government’s notional target of 4,000 might be reached.
The commission, as always, through Mr Jones, were very forthright with their answers, and I thank them for the work that they do. With that, we agree to the line.
MS BURCH (Brindabella—Minister for Education and Training, Minister for Disability, Minister for Multicultural Affairs, Minister for Racing and Gaming, Minister for Women and Minister for the Arts) (10.44): The ACT Gambling and Racing Commission is the statutory authority that regulates and monitors all the gambling activity in the ACT. This covers gaming machines, the casino, the totalisator licensee, racing and sports bookmakers, interactive gambling and minor gaming such as lotteries. The commission has a regulatory function, ensuring that all gaming taxes and fees are paid in an appropriate and timely manner and that licensees comply with the various statutory provisions.
The commission’s role is much more complex than just a regulator. It also is there to promote the public interest by protecting consumers and reducing the risks and cost of problem gambling to individuals and the community.
The commission conducts research on social effects of gambling and problem gambling so that it can make informed decisions about problem gambling and minimising the harm that causes to some people. The ongoing relationship with ANU ensures that high-quality research is conducted, and recently the commission initiated a joint longitudinal study with New South Wales and the ANU to inform about people’s entry into gambling counselling services and the long-term success of the formation of early intervention. The commission’s role in harm minimisation also involves community education and provides counselling support services, and they recently entered into a new arrangement with Relationships Australia to support their problem gambling initiative and support.
I too recognise the work that Mr Jones and the staff at the commission do. I thank them for the work that they do and their diligence and the friendly manner in which they do it.
Proposed expenditure agreed to.
ACT Local Hospital Network—
Schedule 1, Part 1.3—$22,286,000 (net cost of outputs), totalling $22,286,000.
Schedule 1A, Part 1.3—$579,439,000 (net cost of outputs), totalling $579,439,000.
MR HANSON (Molonglo—Leader of the Opposition) (10.46): I indicate that I will be giving a more holistic view of what has been happening in Health when we talk about the Health line rather than breaking it into two segments. The local hospital
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