Page 1906 - Week 07 - Tuesday, 14 June 1994

Next page . . . . Previous page . . . . Speeches . . . . Contents . . . . Debates(HTML) . . . . PDF . . . .


Mr Connolly: Come clean, Mr De Domenico.

MR DE DOMENICO: I always come clean, Mr Connolly. I think you should wash your hands in that cheap petrol that you like so avidly, and mind your own business. Madam Speaker, in short, we will not be voting against these two Bills. They make a lot - - -

Mr Connolly: But what will you do about pokies in the pubs? Give me an answer.

MR DE DOMENICO: I would like to give you a certain answer on pokies, Mr Connolly; but it would be very rude of me to suggest what I would like to poke.

Mr Connolly: You will not give an answer, will you, because you have given certain promises to the pubs?

MR DE DOMENICO: Mr Connolly, we will not be allowing - - -

Mr Kaine: I raise a point of order, Madam Speaker. I do not think the honourable gentleman is conducting a prosecution in his court now. You might call him to order.

MADAM SPEAKER: Thank you, Mr Kaine.

MR DE DOMENICO: Madam Speaker, the Liberal Party will be supporting both pieces of legislation. Mr Connolly can continue to bleat wildly all evening. The fish will not bite, Mr Connolly. When it gets closer to the day of the election we will tell you exactly what we are going to do about all sorts of issues in this town, Mr Connolly; and, let me tell you, you will be pleasantly surprised, as will the electors of the ACT when they throw you out and vote us in.

MR LAMONT (Minister for Urban Services, Minister for Housing and Community Services, Minister for Industrial Relations and Minister for Sport) (8.09), in reply: I will be concluding the debate on this matter. First of all, it is good to see that Mr De Domenico is prepared to place on the record that he and his party will be supporting the installation of poker machines in hotels. I am sure that the club industry will be pleased to hear that in the lead-up to the next election. You can rest assured, Mr De Domenico, that you will not need to use that media group that you have; we will do it for you.

Madam Speaker, the Bookmakers (Amendment) Bill 1994 and the Gaming and Betting (Amendment) Bill 1994 will enable licensed bookmakers to accept bets by telephone while fielding on-course. In February this year the Racing Ministers agreed that all States should endeavour to have in place legislation to provide for on-course telephone betting by 1 July 1994. South Australia and Western Australia have already introduced this service to punters, and the success of telephone betting in those States has been very encouraging. In particular, it has been accepted that there has not been an adverse impact on TAB turnover. The introduction of this service will allow patrons who are unable to attend a racecourse to bet with a bookmaker fielding on-course. This service is also a positive step in the fight against illegal SP bookmaking, at the same time bringing more turnover within the legalised and taxed systems.


Next page . . . . Previous page . . . . Speeches . . . . Contents . . . . Debates(HTML) . . . . PDF . . . .