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Legislative Assembly for the ACT: 1999 Week 7 Hansard (30 June) . . Page.. 1915 ..
MS CARNELL
(continuing):agreed to a change in the proposed structure for the ACT Gambling and Racing Commission by making provision for three Commissioners, one of whom shall be the chairperson, plus the Chief Executive Officer; and
established a complaints mechanism for the Commission.
As an indication of the Government's acceptance of these recommendations, the 1999-2000 budget includes funding of $500,000 toward the gambling project fund to implement a number of the recommendations of the Select Committee.
The budget also includes provision for the establishment of the ACT Gambling and Racing Commission. The delays in the establishment of the Commission relate solely to the unwillingness of members of the Select Committee to debate the legislation.
Mister Speaker, the Select Committee also considered the report of the Allen Consulting Group. The Committee's response to the Allen Report was modest at best. Apart from comment that the Select Committee opposes any extension of gaming machines beyond licensed clubs, and does not accept recommendations 7 and 18 of the Allen Report, the Allen Report received little further comment.
On the issue of an extension of gaming machines, the Government supports a review of the distribution of electronic gaming machines in line with the Government's obligations under national competition policy. However, the reality is that the majority of Assembly members do not support the removal of the current monopoly on gaming machines by clubs. Given the circumstances, the Government does not oppose the recommendation of the Select Committee.
A number of the Select Committee's recommendations closely reflect the recommendations contained in the Allen Consulting Report.
They include the:-
provision of better gambling counselling services;
allocation of a percentage of gambling-related tax revenue for gambling research, prevention and counselling services; and
replacement of the voluntary code of practice with an enforceable code of practice.
I expect that the ACT Gambling and Racing Commission will have the responsibility of implementing the recommendations of the Allen Report.
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