Page 4444 - Week 14 - Thursday, 1 December 1994
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ACTTAB - Repayment of Loan
MR DE DOMENICO: Madam Speaker, my question without notice is to the Minister for Sport, Mr Lamont. Minister, is ACTTAB capable of repaying the $3.3m loan it had to take out from the Government to cover the loss from the failed VITAB deal?
MR LAMONT: I am extremely pleased that Mr De Domenico has been silly enough this afternoon to ask this question, for it gives me the opportunity, prior to the discussion of a matter which is on the notice paper, to underpin what I believe is an essential element of the operations of ACTTAB. ACTTAB, since linking with the most beneficial of the pool arrangements available to it - that is, the superTAB pool - in August, has been working very closely with superTAB on projects to increase the turnover of ACTTAB, and to do that by a range of mechanisms. Early next year, ACTTAB, in its linkages with superTAB, will be providing additional services to punters in the ACT. That will allow for things such as the super-sixes, the quadrellas and a range of other funding - - -
Mr Humphries: I raise a point of order, Madam Speaker. I am absolutely edified by this discussion about ACTTAB's general operations; but Mr De Domenico's question was very specific. It was about repayment of the sum of money which ACTTAB is now saddled with as a result of this Government's incompetence over VITAB. That was the question that was asked. I ask the Minister to be relevant to that question.
MADAM SPEAKER: I am sure that Mr Lamont is well aware of that question. Continue, Mr Lamont.
MR LAMONT: Because of all of these initiatives and the marketing strategy that is being put in place, it is the expectation of ACTTAB that it will build up the pool which exists in the ACT, as far as betting through ACTTAB is concerned. The annual report of ACTTAB is to be tabled in this Assembly in the next week.
Mr Humphries: It had better be. It is about time.
MR LAMONT: I am also pleased to see the ignorance demonstrated by Mr Humphries about when and how annual reports are tabled in this place. The annual report of ACTTAB will be provided and tabled in this Assembly prior to 31 December, as is required and as is appropriate. I am confident that ACTTAB, with the cooperation of government, will survive, will be able to meet any payments or obligations that it has and - not only that - will grow to be regarded as one of the great TABs of this country.
Mr De Domenico: That is what Mr Hawke said.
MR LAMONT: I am confident of that, Mr De Domenico, despite the sorts of comments that you have been making recently, despite the misinformation and despite the activities of people like your leader and you in trying to undermine the operations of the TAB.
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