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Legislative
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| Mike Elliott Leader Australian Democrats Member of the Legislative Council |
Parliament Index |
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Legislative
Council |
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| Mike Elliott Leader Australian Democrats Member of the Legislative Council |
Parliament Index |
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RACING (PROPRIETARY BUSINESS LICENSING) BILL
The Hon. M.J. ELLIOTT: During the second reading debate, I indicated that there were two matters of concern for the Democrats in relation to this bill. We had no significant problems with the concept of proprietary racing itself but we had concerns about probity and the potential for expansion of gambling and therefore the expansion of gambling-related harm. I indicated that, if those two issues were not addressed, we would not support the bill; but, if they were, we were prepared to support it.
Without looking at the substance of the amendments so far, it seems that the issues of probity appear to have been largely addressed. During this committee, I will need to be convinced that there is no expansion of gambling opportunity within South Australia. It may be that one of the amendments would handle it but, as I said, I do not intend to tackle the text of the amendments now. They are the two issues that are important. The Democrats have posed a need for a significant change and a need for legislation in areas of regulation and harm minimisation. I have introduced a private members' bill, which addresses issues of the monitoring and reporting of gambling-related harm but not in relation to regulation.
It is possible that some of the amendments will make my bill unnecessary, so far as it is possible that South Australians are not allowed to bet, which is what some of these amendments will do. However, now that South Australian horses and dogs will be running-I presume that they are horses and dogs that could be racing in other meetings as well-there will be an awful lot of South Australian interest and desire to bet here.
The danger is that the amendments might have sufficient loopholes so they can mirror their way back into the state. While in this state, an electronic device may be used so the bet can be run from elsewhere. That matter will have to be addressed to my satisfaction. If the bill leaves loopholes that mean there is a real expansion of gambling in South Australia and if in the interim the government has made no real attempt, as distinct from talking about it, to address issues of gambling-related harm, we may end up voting against it.
