Page 5525 - Week 13 - Wednesday, 17 November 2010
Next page . . . . Previous page . . . . Speeches . . . . Contents . . . . Debates(HTML) . . . . PDF . . . . Video
provide players with enhanced information about the expected cost of playing machines based on their style of play. The select council will examine the costs and benefits of these changes for industry and government. Importantly, the council has acknowledged that gambling is a legitimate industry and one that makes a significant economic and social contribution to Australia. As a member of the select council, I will be ensuring the ACT’s views are heard at the national level.
The government is committed to minimising the harm that problem gambling inflicts on some members of our community. The operation of electronic gaming machines in the ACT is controlled, supervised and regulated by the ACT Gambling and Racing Commission, under the powers prescribed to it through the Gambling and Racing Control Act 1999.
The commission is not only responsible for ensuring the lawful provision of gaming services in the ACT, but is also required to exercise its powers in a way that best promotes the public interest. This is reducing, where possible, the cost of problem gambling not only to individuals involved but also to the community as a whole.
The functions of the commission also include monitoring the social and economic effects of gambling and problem gambling and providing educational services about gambling and engaging in community consultation about its activities. The commission also undertakes review of the ACT’s gaming laws, such as its current review of the government’s provisions for clubs within the Gaming Machine Act 2004. This continuing process of reviewing and updating legislation, including appropriate community consultation, clearly demonstrates the government’s commitment to the provision of a safe and well-regulated gaming environment within the territory.
There are currently two agreements between the Department of Disability, Housing and Community Services and Lifeline Canberra totalling almost $400,000 per annum. This funding helps support the provision of the Lifeline telephone counselling service, a crisis counselling service using trained volunteer counsellors, and Gambling Care, a gambling and financial counselling service that assists ACT residents to enhance their personal financial management skills. The government’s programs in relation to harm minimisation are complemented by the Clubcare program, under which 25 of Canberra’s leading licensed community clubs, ClubsACT and ACTTAB work with Lifeline Canberra to assist in providing responsible environments for patrons who gamble. Also under the Clubcare program, Lifeline Canberra provides specialist gambling and financial counselling services to participating clubs and ACTTAB patrons.
There is no doubt that increased funding towards alleviating problem gambling may help minimise the impact of problem gambling on the community. The changes proposed in Ms Hunter’s bill will raise the funding provided by licensees of problem gambling service providers above current levels and will also provide increased funding certainty for the organisations involved. Additionally, the fund will provide more money for research into problem gambling. These are all worthy aims.
The administration of the scheme by the Gambling and Racing Commission will allow the allocation of funding to be undertaken in an objective and transparent
Next page . . . . Previous page . . . . Speeches . . . . Contents . . . . Debates(HTML) . . . . PDF . . . . Video