Page 4509 - Week 14 - Thursday, 1 December 1994
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I also note Mr De Domenico's point about the formal arrangement that will be established with ACT Treasury, ACTTAB and the Bureau of Sport, Recreation and Racing. It would actually be possible to include a representative of the racing clubs in that arrangement, if the Minister wanted to consider it. Then the racing clubs would feel included in any decisions that are made about the percentage returns that are likely to be received in relation to particular events. The other point that I would like to note is that the Minister has indicated that he is intending to link the relativities between the percentage returns to the ACT, to the race clubs, and to the Racecourse Development Fund, so that, in terms of the percentages which exist at the moment, the proportions will be in line with how they operate at the moment; they will just be higher or lower across the board.
Mr De Domenico raised the issue of the flexibility of the return. It is possible that the returns will be increased or decreased. The Assembly is aware that introducing flexibility into these arrangements may have a detrimental effect in some circumstances, and it is for that reason that the Assembly will want to keep a very close eye on the operation of these provisions.
I did ask the Minister earlier about the disallowance provisions and how they would work. I now understand, I believe, how they will work. If the Assembly disallows the rates that are determined for a particular event, then we return to the previous rate which was in place before the new rates were determined for that event.
Mr Connolly: Yes; but prospective, not retrospective.
MS SZUTY: Yes; it will not be retrospective, but it will be some date in the future. Mrs Carnell raised the question of whether we can dispense with these amendments anyway and whether we can adjust the return to punters, rather than change the provisions which the Minister intends to change under this legislation. I do not believe that you have answered that question directly, but I can see - - -
Mr Lamont: What it means is that the TAB goes broke.
MS SZUTY: I can understand what you are doing in terms of wanting the flexibility to adjust the percentages of return to these entities, but Mrs Carnell's question is a valid one. If you have taken the decision to improve your flexibility in this way, then you have chosen to do it in this way. Madam Speaker, I did indicate earlier that I supported the Bill in principle. I believe that the Assembly will pay very close attention to its operation. I will not be supporting Mr De Domenico's amendments as he has proposed them.
MR LAMONT (Minister for Urban Services, Minister for Housing and Community Services, Minister for Industrial Relations and Minister for Sport) (6.47): Madam Speaker, I have sought clarification on the linking arrangements and whether they can remain the same. The rate cannot be adjusted by ACTTAB, as the agreement between ACTTAB and Tabcorp requires that ACTTAB cannot have a different deduction rate from Tabcorp's and remain linked - no constant dividend, no link. If there is to be a change in that vein with the punter, then that comes out of the profitability of the TAB
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