Page 3617 - Week 08 - Friday, 24 August 2012
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completed projects that look at help-seeking behaviours. That is the research I was talking about, that world-class research that is being undertaken at the ANU.
It was also encouraging to see that the Auditor-General’s report which looked into the commission’s harm minimisation policies and programs was quite positive. I am glad that the government’s response to the recommendations will be out and we can see where it goes from there.
There are still some concerns in the community about the territory’s high maximum bets available on gaming machines. I know that this is a federal issue that is being discussed at the moment. But for us it is about continuing to be very vigilant about the negative impacts that can happen from problem gambling. Therefore I go back to my initial comments—that I am pleased to see that the commission is playing a very positive role by administering that problem gambling assistance fund. That positive role is giving fantastic benefits across the community to individuals and to their families.
MS BURCH (Brindabella—Minister for Community Services, Minister for the Arts, Minister for Multicultural Affairs, Minister for Ageing, Minister for Women and Minister for Gaming and Racing) (3.33): I too want to thank the commissioner and the staff over at the commission for the work that they do, and also the board, headed up by Malcolm Gray as chair, who will be finishing his time at the end of the year. He has put in a number of good years to the commission’s work and I wish him well in future years.
Very briefly, the main focus of the commission is on the regulation and monitoring of gambling activities in the ACT; namely, casino, gaming machines, lotteries, racing and wagering, and interactive gambling. They have a very strong role in regulation and monitoring—which is absolutely right for them to do, and they do a very good job in that—and in performance and functions. The commission must also promote the public interest by protecting consumers and reducing the risks and cost of problem gambling to individuals and the community. The commission has additional functions relating to the conduct of research on the social effects of gambling and problem gambling as well as community education relating to gambling activity.
Whilst this is about the commission, we know that gaming and racing enterprises here in the ACT, whether it be the pacers or the harness races, the thoroughbred parks, the greyhound dogs or all of our community clubs, are good, strong employers across the community and they provide much valued entertainment and activities across our community.
Proposed expenditure agreed to.
Proposed expenditure—Part 1.18—ACT Public Cemeteries Authority—$369,000 (capital injection), totalling $369,000.
MS LE COUTEUR (Molonglo) (3.36): We are pleased to see that the new southern cemetery is going to include natural burial. As members will know, I have been a strong advocate for natural burials, representing a natural and significantly more
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