Next page . . . . Previous page . . . . Speeches . . . . Contents . . . . Debates(HTML) . . . .

Legislative Assembly for the ACT: 2001 Week 7 Hansard (19 June) . . Page.. 2016 ..

MR HUMPHRIES (Chief Minister, Minister for Community Affairs and Treasurer) (11.39), in reply: Mr Speaker, I thank the opposition and, I think, the Greens for support for this bill. It is a fairly important piece of legislation, as it comprehensively reviews the legislative structure under which bookmaking and sports betting take place in the ACT.

As members have heard, a number of changes were proposed in a review of the legislation some time ago. Rather than attempt to bill these new amendments into an old act, the view was taken that it should be comprehensively reorganised such as to produce this entirely new piece of legislation.

Members have seen that a number of things have been done in the bill. It has the Gambling and Racing Commission assume the functions of the Bookmakers Licensing Committee and the Registrar of Bookmakers; it enhances the suitability requirements for all bookmakers and their agents; and it gives powers for the commission to vary the security guarantee of a bookmaker, to impose conditions on a licence and to give directions to a licensee, and so on. Also, it states clearly what the appeal provisions are in respect of decisions of the commission.

We have picked up virtually all of the recommendations from the review. We have also had an extensive consultation with stakeholders about these matters. There are a couple of matters which have been raised with the sports bookmakers at the auditorium at the Canberra Racetrack. I will address those issues at the detail stage.

Overall, this can be seen as a comprehensive galvanising of the structure to deal with sports and race bookmaking and to apply a more contemporary regime to that whole industry. I am sure that the issues that are given rise to in that respect will be better dealt with as a result of this legislation. I thank members for their support.

Question resolved in the affirmative.

Bill agreed to in principle.

Detail stage

Bill, by leave, taken as a whole.

MR HUMPHRIES (Chief Minister, Minister for Community Affairs and Treasurer) (11.42): I seek leave to move amendments Nos 1 to 20, which have been circulated in my name, together. I also present the supplementary explanatory memorandum.

Leave granted.

MR HUMPHRIES (Chief Minister, Minister for Community Affairs and Treasurer) (11.43): I move these amendments [see schedule 2 at page 2123], which arise out of a number of sources, including further discussion with stakeholders following the tabling of the original bill in March of this year and recommendations made by the scrutiny of bills committee. A fair variety of issues are covered in the amendments. I will not, therefore, discuss them in detail today.

Next page . . . . Previous page . . . . Speeches . . . . Contents . . . . Debates(HTML) . . . .