Page 2452 - Week 08 - Tuesday, 9 August 2016
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The establishment of Access Canberra as a one-stop shop for ACT government customer and regulatory services has made it easier for businesses to interact with the government. This has given Access Canberra the ability to undertake joint inspections in areas like gaming, liquor and public health protection and regulation and has meant that government officials are not entering venues as often, causing businesses less disruption.
The feedback from licensed businesses, like clubs, has been very positive. The agreement between Access Canberra and the GRC has allowed the commission to review its practices and identify synergies with Access Canberra’s licensing, compliance, investigation and support areas, which will ensure that the Gambling and Racing Commission is better positioned to meet its obligations.
Access Canberra, on behalf of the commission, has put in place a risk-based compliance framework which means that resources are directed to where the risks to integrity, community protection or harm minimisation are the greatest. This has been based on considerations of the kinds of harm that might happen to community and individuals, whether the venue has complied in the past, if there are systemic issues or whether an organisation is blatantly disregarding the law.
The objectives central to the gambling and racing compliance framework include harm minimisation, integrity and protection. The importance of harm minimisation in particular in the ACT has long been recognised by the government. Both the research and public health approaches taken support gambling harm minimisation and prevention for our community.
In relation to gambling harm prevention research, the commission initiates research projects that inform its harm prevention activities and strategies. This research program is funded both directly by the commission and also through the problem gambling assistance fund. It gives us a robust evidence base which informs the commission’s work and strategies.
Through its partnership with the Australian National University, the commission enlisted the ANU Centre for Gambling and Research to carry out the 2014 survey on gambling health and wellbeing in the ACT. The survey reported on the prevalence of gambling and gaming harm in the ACT during 2014 as well as identifying trends and changes since 2009.
The ANU centre is also conducting a five-year longitudinal study on the experiences of gamblers and family members before, during and after seeking help for gambling harm. This research will inform the commission about the needs of people seeking help for gambling harm and how best to target and provide that assistance. This study is being done in collaboration with New South Wales.
In addition to ANU’s research, the ACT Youth Council is currently conducting an action research project funded through the problem gambling assistance fund. This project is focused on improving the awareness of gambling harm and help available for young Canberrans who might be at risk.
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