Page 1347 - Week 04 - Thursday, 5 May 2022
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bookmakers reflect how the industry currently operates in practice. In the ACT the only licensed sports bookmaker is a corporate bookmaker.
The amendments are intended to maintain a public health approach to gambling harm prevention within the territory. There is clear evidence that sports betting is a problematic form of gambling for many of its users. A survey by the Australian Institute of Family Studies found that 70 per cent of the 335 bettors surveyed were at risk of or already experiencing gambling harm, and most participants reported that sports betting was too easily accessible.
These amendments to restrict sports bookmakers’ licences to corporations are intended to limit the number of people who can apply for a licence in the future. This should help to reduce the risk of a possible increase in sports betting services over time. The amendments will also ensure that sports bookmakers are subject to a more robust and multifaceted regulatory environment, due to their registration under the Corporations Act.
Finally, on retirement villages, it is important to highlight that the bill also makes a number of amendments to the Retirement Villages Act and the Retirement Villages Regulation to improve and clarify the operation of retirement village meetings. Broadly, these amendments fix several typos, clarify that a chairperson should be elected for all meetings of residents, make clear that an operator cannot be present during a vote, and specify when a vote must be taken by written ballot. (Extension of time granted.)
While these changes may be minor and technical in nature, they will collectively help retirement village residents and operators to better understand their legislative obligations. By clarifying meeting processes and procedures, retirement village residents will be able to more readily participate in decision-making processes that impact their home.
I am confident that this bill will make important amendments to these regulatory frameworks and support improved consumer protection outcomes for our community. I thank members for their support of the bill. I assure Mr Parton that there is nothing sinister in here. I commend the bill to the Assembly.
At 6.30 pm, in accordance with standing order 34, the debate was interrupted. The motion for the adjournment of the Assembly having been put and negatived, the debate was resumed.
Question resolved in the affirmative.
Bill agreed to in principle.
Leave granted to dispense with the detail stage.
Bill agreed to.
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