Page 5769 - Week 18 - Tuesday, 10 December 1991
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GAMBLING
Discussion of Matter of Public Importance
MR SPEAKER: I have received a letter from Dr Kinloch proposing that a matter of public importance be submitted to the Assembly for discussion, namely:
Problem gambling and the need for counselling and rehabilitative services.
DR KINLOCH (3.05): I thank members of the Assembly for being willing, at this very late date in the history of our First Assembly, to listen to my comments on this topic. It is a topic which relates to problems in my own life, problems I have never tried to disguise. They are painful matters which, however, have helped me to work in this area, and perhaps have even been part of my own rehabilitation - a rehabilitation, however, which from time to time has been sorely tested. But that is enough about that.
A week or so ago, Sir Laurence Street reported on the proposed gambling casinos in New South Wales. He drew attention to the increased numbers of problem gamblers that would be generated by such casinos and called for the introduction of remedial facilities to take care of the individual, family and social problems which would follow. Such recommendations have been made in connection with a number of political entities, both in Australia and elsewhere; but, as far as I know, nothing has been done about them. My concern today is that the ACT should no longer merely talk about remedial facilities, but should act on recommendations made long ago, and now heed Sir Laurence Street's very recent advice.
Recommendations along these lines were made by the select committee of this Assembly in its report of July 1989 - almost 2 years ago. That committee, chaired by Mr Humphries, included Mr Duby, Mr Jensen, Mr Stevenson and Mr Wood. Their very first recommendation was as follows:
that the ACT Government adopt as a matter of policy the urgent implementation of the Social Impact Survey recommendations relating to the epidemiological studies and the establishment of counselling, referral and education services.
And now, please note the second part of that recommendation:
such services be established irrespective of whether a casino is approved.
a proportion of total Government gambling revenue be dedicated to the funding of such services.
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