Page 2708 - Week 08 - Tuesday, 15 August 2017
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As for the other racing codes, recently I signed a five-year memorandum of understanding with the Canberra Racing Club and the Canberra Harness Racing Club. The MOU provides for greater communication and information exchange between the clubs and me, outlines what an inaugural industry and government committee might consider and highlights that animal welfare is considered a priority by the industry. The budget continues to support these two clubs, with over $7 million allocated to them in the 2017-18 financial year, and again into the outyears. I look forward to an ongoing relationship with the Canberra Racing Club and the Canberra Harness Racing Club and to supporting a vibrant and viable horseracing industry in the ACT.
Reducing the impact of gambling harm continues to be a top priority for this government. The government continues to support the Gambling and Racing Commission in its function to monitor and research the social effects of gambling and gambling harm. This financial year, the Gambling and Racing Commission will approve expenditure of more than $1.1 million from the problem gambling assistance fund to fund projects that reduce gambling harms experienced by Canberrans and increase our understanding of that harm. These projects include the provision of face-to-face, telephone and online gambling help services and research projects that improve our understanding of gambling harm and also prevention. These will continue to inform the Gambling and Racing Commission in its efforts in reducing harm caused by problem gambling.
Access Canberra continues to support the Gambling and Racing Commission to meet its obligations under the legislation. The commission continues to play a crucial role in ensuring the lawful conduct of gambling and racing in the ACT. With the efforts in this space, the government continues its commitment to ACT residents to ensure gambling operators’ compliance with legislation. Access Canberra is not only committed to conducting a comprehensive inspection program to ensure operators comply with relevant legislation, but also it is increasing its efforts to engage and educate operators. In fact, this year, Access Canberra’s efforts in engaging and educating gambling and racing operators is anticipated to be approximately 92 per cent of all its compliance activities and efforts in gaming and racing.
This government is also committed to undertaking a review of the current community contributions scheme, with a view to maximising the direct benefit to the community from the scheme. We acknowledge the need for reform in this space and we are doing something about it. My directorate is working with the Gambling and Racing Commission, which has identified some options for improvement, to review the scheme and to make recommendations for change. The government will also be undertaking broad community consultations on the issue later this year.
Finally, in this budget the government is showing its absolute commitment to all of the election commitments made in the gaming and racing space in last year’s election. We are working responsively with our industry stakeholders and listening to the Canberra community to ensure that harm minimisation continues to be at the forefront of our agenda and that operators are compliant with gaming and racing legislation.
MS STEPHEN-SMITH (Kurrajong—Minister for Community Services and Social Inclusion, Minister for Disability, Children and Youth, Minister for Aboriginal and
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