Page 3841 - Week 12 - Thursday, 30 October 2014
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That this bill be agreed to in principle.
Today I present the Gaming Machine (Red Tape Reduction) Amendment Bill 2014 which brings forward the red tape reduction provisions of the gaming machine reform package which I announced on 2 October this year. The important reforms contained in this bill have been developed in consultation with the clubs industry and will reduce unnecessary red tape and regulatory burden so that our clubs can get on with doing their business. They complement other recent red tape reduction initiatives that have been supported by the government with the aim of supporting our community clubs through some challenging times.
The bill amends the Gaming Machine Act 2004 to accommodate the reforms announced while ensuring that the territory retains a robust regulatory and harm minimisation framework for the operation of gaming machines. The reforms seek to place further emphasis on building a contemporary framework of regulation so that we do not burden our clubs with outdated requirements. At the same time, the amendments have been constructed so as not to restrict the ACT Gambling and Racing Commission’s ability to regulate it as it sees necessary.
The bill alleviates unnecessary red tape by allowing licensees to move gaming machines within already authorised gaming areas without the need for unnecessary administrative approvals, clarifying legislative provisions in relation to changing club constitutions at the direction of the commission which now may occur without an election of voting members, replacing gaming machine access registers with a less burdensome computer cabinet access register, removing the requirement for the licensing of gaming machine attendants with the abolition of gaming machine access registers, increasing licence terms for machine technicians to three years in line with other recent increases for licensing periods for people employed in the gaming industry, and allowing small clubs to pay their problem gambling assistance fund contributions on an annual basis in arrears.
In addition to having a positive impact on gaming machine licensees, these reforms will result in greater efficiencies to government through a reduction in administrative overheads for the commission. The amendments have been drafted with an eye to providing consistency with other gambling and wagering laws in the territory and, where appropriate, with other jurisdictions.
This government is committed to the ongoing reduction of unnecessary red tape for our community clubs, and the amendments I introduce today are yet another example of this commitment in action. The government will continue to work with industry to explore further opportunities for freeing up administration but always within a framework of maintaining appropriate compliance and harm minimisation arrangements. I commend the bill to the Assembly.
Debate (on motion by Mr Smyth) adjourned to the next sitting.
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