Page 2451 - Week 08 - Tuesday, 9 August 2016
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The majority of agreed recommendations are in varying stages of implementation and are providing benefit to both industry and the community more broadly. Some of these recommendations include far-reaching objectives that have the potential to provide significant benefit to not only industry but also government. It is fair to say that given the importance of these reforms in particular, and the need to work carefully with various stakeholders, some are taking longer to implement than others. An update on the progress against the recommendations will be provided as part of the annual report process.
In addition to amendments included in the reform package and the PAC inquiry recommendations, the government has already delivered additional red tape reduction initiatives for our community clubs, including but not limited to flexible arrangements for conducting balance where needed and changes to interstate requirements as well.
I must go to a couple of the comments that Mr Hanson raised in relation to our community clubs. We are a strong supporter of our community clubs, and we have met on a number of occasions to engage with our community clubs and Clubs ACT to ensure that we can support them into the future. I think it was quite outrageous of M Hanson to deliver points to you, Madam Deputy Speaker, while you were in the chair and had little chance to come back at him. I think it is without courage that he did that, and I want to correct the record in relation to his comments on poker machines: the government does not own any poker machines.
We have also done some work for those conducting low-risk lotteries in the ACT. Recent legislative amendments exempt low-risk lotteries from requiring commission approval. For the racing industry, reforms have included simple licensing arrangements for race bookmakers and their agents.
The government continues to work with stakeholders on an ongoing basis to identify, and implement where possible, regulatory reforms. Both the racing and clubs MOUs expire within the next 12 months and, as this is the case, the way forward for both industries will be reviewed in collaboration with stakeholders. Additional red tape reduction and regulatory forms are planned over the coming year, including a new legislative framework for the Lotteries Act 1964 and the Pool Betting Act 1964 aimed at modernising arrangements to provide a contemporary framework for the regulation of these activities.
Access Canberra and the Gambling and Racing Commission are entering the second year of their agreement for the provision of services for the administration of gaming laws, including the control, supervision and regulation of gaming and racing in the ACT. The agreement allows the Gambling and Racing Commission to request work from Access Canberra to fulfil its obligations under the control act and satisfy its objectives as outlined in the 2014-18 strategic plan and the 2015-16 statement of intent. The commission, through Access Canberra, administers the territory’s gaming and racing laws and the control, supervision and regulation of gaming and racing in the ACT. The objectives central to the gambling and racing compliance framework are harm minimisation, integrity and protection.
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