Page 3777 - Week 12 - Thursday, 24 October 2013

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The introduction of these bills will deliver a single, national law that combines nine different sets of heavy vehicle laws into one. These reforms will remove inefficiencies arising from inconsistent jurisdictional requirements, streamline the regulatory arrangements, reduce the compliance burden for business and reduce transport costs. I commend the bill to the Assembly.

Debate (on motion by Mr Coe) adjourned to the next sitting.

Gaming Machine (Red Tape Reduction) Amendment Bill 2013

Ms Burch, pursuant to notice, presented the bill, its explanatory statement and a Human Rights Act compatibility statement.

Title read by Clerk.

MS BURCH (Brindabella—Minister for Education and Training, Minister for Disability, Children and Young People, Minister for the Arts, Minister for Women, Minister for Multicultural Affairs and Minister for Racing and Gaming) (10.35): I move:

That this bill be agreed to in principle.

I introduce the Gaming Machine (Red Tape Reduction) Amendment Bill 2013, which reduces red tape associated with the approval of financial arrangements when gaming machines are being acquired or when existing gaming machines are being encumbered. The bill also improves processes in relation to arrangements for undisbursed jackpot amounts. The bill progresses the work that the ACT government committed to when I signed the memorandum of understanding with ClubsACT on 11 September last year which set out the policy and reform agenda for the licensed club sector over the next four years.

A key commitment in that MOU was that the government would conduct a broad review of the current regulatory regime faced by the club sector and identify areas for reform, and I am pleased that much of this work is already underway as part of ClubsACT’s current representation on the government’s red tape reduction panel. This bill is the result of this consultative work with the clubs sector, and we will continue to work with clubs to identify other areas where we can reduce red tape.

This bill will remove sections 101 and 102 of the Gaming Machine Act 2004 and will make it a one-step process for the application, approval and decision with regards to acquiring a gaming machine. This amendment will reduce red tape through reducing the time and effort spent by gaming machine licensees in applying to purchase machines, as it will not be necessary to seek approval of financial arrangements.

In addition, the amendments will remove the requirement for a licensee to seek approval of financial arrangements over existing machines, as this requirement does not fit with current commercial practice and is unnecessary, given other provisions of the Gaming Machine Act. The Gambling and Racing Commission also has powers


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