Page 4573 - Week 14 - Thursday, 24 November 2005
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The reforms to the casino employee licensing system will overcome significant deficiencies that are being experienced with the existing scheme, such as unnecessary restrictions on persons gaining employment at the casino. The changes will also make the scheme consistent with the recently introduced Gaming Machine Act 2004, where similar principles of licensing gaming staff are in operation. The new casino employee licensing scheme will be more flexible, while maintaining proper probity controls over the employment of casino personnel in critical or sensitive areas of the casino. The scheme will be simpler for casino employees to understand and comply with. Efficiencies will be achieved by both the casino licensee and the commission in operating the new scheme.
Importantly, there is currently unnecessary and confusing duplication of a number of provisions within the Casino Control Act 1988 and the Gambling and Racing Control Act 1999—the act which establishes the commission’s functions, powers and responsibilities. The Casino Control Bill 2005 will eliminate this duplication in such areas as the appointment of commission inspectors, the powers of such persons and the seizure of illegal gaming equipment.
Young persons, that is, persons under 18 years of age, will no longer be permitted to enter the casino under any circumstance. This tightens the current provision that permits young persons to enter the casino as long as they cannot see gambling. This current scheme is impractical and inconsistent with current policies on gambling harm minimisation. This change reflects current casino practice not to allow underage persons to enter the casino premises at any time and is fully supported by the casino licensee, as well as by gambling counselling services.
The government has a well-documented policy on minimising the potential harm that may be caused to some people that have difficulty in managing their gambling activity. The current harm minimisation provisions relating to the exclusion of patrons that have a problem with their gambling at the casino have been revised to make them consistent with other gambling licensees, particularly gaming machine operators, that is, the clubs. Responsibility for the administration of the casino’s self-exclusion program will now be properly placed with the casino licensee, rather than the current scheme administered by the commission. The proposed new scheme is the same regulatory model covering gaming machine licensees and is consistent with the government policy of having gambling harm minimisation provisions consolidated within the code of practice regulation.
In conclusion, this Casino Control Bill brings the operational and regulatory requirements up to date and provides for a clearer, fairer and more responsible way of controlling the casino. This bill reflects on the very good work undertaken by the ACT Gambling and Racing Commission in conducting their comprehensive review of the previous act, including undertaking extensive community and industry consultation. This bill provides for the future. It will ensure that proper legislative controls will be in place to protect the community, as well as providing clarity and certainty for the industry. I commend the Casino Control Bill 2005 to the Assembly.
Debate (on motion by Mr Stefaniak) adjourned to the next sitting.
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