Next page . . . . Previous page . . . . Speeches . . . . Contents . . . . Debates(HTML) . . . .
Legislative Assembly for the ACT: 1999 Week 7 Hansard (1 July) . . Page.. 2080 ..
MS TUCKER (continuing):
We are not in the position where we have any real idea of what is the impact of increasing the number of poker machines in the community. That is why it was one of the key recommendations of the report of the Select Committee on Gambling.
At the time there were some comments of disgust from the Government because they felt that the select committee did not come up with definitive answers on some of these issues; but, as was the case with all of the other groups in different Territories and States who looked at this issue, we found that it was not possible to make an informed decision on things such as allowing poker machines in hotels and taverns, poker machine numbers or whatever was the critical political issue that was being discussed. The intent of the cap was clearly to give a bit of breathing space so that we could get that information and then as elected representatives make some hard decisions or whatever.
It may be that we will say that we do not need a cap at all, but the argument put by the Chief Minister is not what I understand the rationale for the cap to be. I think the proposal for two years that Mr Kaine has put is quite reasonable. If, in fact, the Chief Minister is right and we get enough information collected and research done in a year that people in this place feel confident that they can make a decision on this issue, it would be the right of the Assembly to do so, but at this point I think it is quite okay to leave the situation as the committee recommended and make it two years.
Question resolved in the affirmative.
Bill agreed to in principle.
Amendment (by Mr Kaine ) put:
Page 2, line 4, clause 3, omit "10 July 2000", substitute "30 June 2001".
The Assembly voted -
AYES, 9 NOES, 7 Mr Berry Ms Carnell Mr Corbell Mr Cornwell Mr Hargreaves Mr Hird Mr Kaine Mr Humphries Mr Quinlan Mr Moore Mr Rugendyke Mr Smyth Mr Stanhope Mr Stefaniak Ms Tucker Mr WoodQuestion so resolved in the affirmative.
Next page . . . . Previous page . . . . Speeches . . . . Contents . . . . Debates(HTML) . . . .