Page 2484 - Week 09 - Tuesday, 23 August 1994
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Mr Kaine: I raise a point of order, Madam Speaker. If the Minister wants to make a three-page pre-prepared speech, why does he not do it in ministerial statements time, not question time?
MADAM SPEAKER: The Minister will continue to answer the question.
MR LAMONT: Thank you, Madam Speaker. I can understand why all of you were squirming in your seats. Madam Speaker, the new pooling agreement followed several months of detailed and complex negotiations which were necessitated after the Victorian TAB cancelled ACTTAB's access to the superpool, effective on 1 August. Over that period of negotiation the board of ACTTAB and officials of the Bureau of Sport, Recreation and Racing held extensive discussions with both the Victorian TAB and the New South Wales TAB with a view to obtaining the best deal for the Territory in relation to a new superpool link. For many years now, and particularly from the time the notice of cancellation became public, people within the racing industry have called for a link between ACTTAB and the New South Wales TAB. This view stemmed from many factors, ranging from the ACT's geographical location to perceived advantages flowing from the increased pool sizes.
Throughout the negotiation process my concern was to ensure that the future of ACTTAB and its staff was assured, and that the best possible deal was done for the benefit of the Territory, the local racing industry and ACT punters. However, the circumstances surrounding the cancellation of ACTTAB's link to the superpool were common knowledge, and it was clear that we were not negotiating from a position of strength. There was always a possibility that a link to a superpool might not be achieved, and our expectations of what might happen to ACTTAB turnover if our pools were not linked made this an outcome which could be accepted only as a last resort. It is important that I state the background to the negotiations. Having stated the background, members will have a clearer understanding of the final - - -
Mr Humphries: I take a point of order, Madam Speaker. I do not know whether you ruled on Mr Kaine's point of order before about ministerial statements under the guise of questions, but we clearly have here a multiple-page ministerial statement which should not intrude into the short time we have for questions in the Assembly each day. I would ask you to ask the Minister to answer the question succinctly, as standing orders require, or to sit down.
MADAM SPEAKER: The standing orders require that the answer be concise. On this matter, which is complicated, I believe that the answer may proceed. Continue, Mr Lamont.
MR LAMONT: It is important that I state the background to these negotiations. Having stated the background, members will have a clear understanding of the final decision to link with Victoria. Initially, negotiations with New South Wales went very well. Both the New South Wales TAB and the AJC were very receptive to our approach, and they shared our enthusiasm to cement an agreement. After the board of the New South Wales TAB had approved the principle of a pool to pool link with ACTTAB,
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