GAMBLING SECTOR REFORM

The Hon. I.K. HUNTER (15:56): I seek leave to make a brief explanation before directing a question to the Minister for Gambling.

Leave granted.

The Hon. I.K. HUNTER: On Thursday 24 February of this year, I had occasion to ask the minister a question about gambling reform and specifically the forthcoming state negotiations about reform to the gambling sector, including the subject of a precommitment trial. I understand that a meeting of the COAG Select Council on Gambling Reform was recently convened in Canberra. I also understand that several key reforms were on the table for discussion, including precommitment, as the minister has previously foreshadowed. Will the minister update the chamber on commonwealth/state discussions on the subject of reform to the gambling sector?

The Hon. B.V. FINNIGAN (Minister for Industrial Relations, Minister for State/Local Government Relations, Minister for Gambling) (14:57): As the honourable member indicated, late last month I attended the COAG Select Council on Gambling Reform meeting in Canberra. As I have previously advised the house, arising from the agreement between the Gillard government and Mr Andrew Wilkie MP, the federal member for Denison, discussions are currently taking place between jurisdictions on reforms to the gambling sector. The terms of reference for the select council require it to consider the recommendations of the Productivity Commission and to advise on implementing a national approach to these recommendations.

To date, the select council has considered issues such as precommitment, dynamic warnings and ATM restrictions. Work is being progressed in areas such as regulation of online gambling, problem gambling among Indigenous people and commonwealth involvement in a funding model for racing and wagering. The select council has determined to forward the work program, focusing on priorities such as precommitment, and aims to develop a national response to the Productivity Commission report on gambling.

On behalf of the government, at the recent meeting in Canberra, I presented part 1 of a two-part paper on precommitment. I briefed the select council on the lessons learned from the two voluntary precommitment trials that have been conducted in South Australia. I should point out that the commonwealth government provided funding for those precommitment trials. The second part of the paper on precommitment will be presented at the select council meeting that is currently scheduled for May.

I have previously advised the chamber on the findings of the technology-based and non-technology based precommitment trials. The results of the trials have demonstrated that precommitment can be an effective tool in reducing the harmful effects of problem gambling. On the evidence available, we have learnt that precommitment works when people want to use it and are prepared to set limits suitable to their budget. South Australia, along with Queensland, has been leading the nation in this important policy area.

It is my intention and that of the government to work with the commonwealth and other states to develop a consensus approach as much as possible in implementing reforms in the area of gaming regulation. As I have indicated before to the house, under the agreement between the Prime Minister and Mr Wilkie, the commonwealth government has committed to legislate to achieve gambling reforms if agreement with states and territories cannot be reached by 31 May this year.

This most recent select council meeting has served to identify priority areas of policy reform. The commonwealth and the states now have the opportunity to research and consider policy positions before returning in May to decide upon a national approach to gambling reform. I look forward to considering each of the issues that were presented at the most recent select council meeting. I am confident that, working together with colleagues in other states, we can achieve meaningful reform.