GAMBLING SECTOR REFORM

The Hon. I.K. HUNTER (15:18): I seek leave to make a brief explanation before asking the Minister for Gambling a question on reform of the gambling sector.

Leave granted.

The Hon. I.K. HUNTER: I understand that the minister recently took part in the Flinders University Southgate Institute for Health and Equity Policy Club Q&A on gambling. As an aside, I understand that the minister performed so well that I am sure the ABC's Q&A program will be desirous of his appearing on that show too at some point in the very near future. I know the minister can, but will he inform the chamber how the Q&A format was used to discuss pre-commitment technology and broader issues around prevention of problem gambling?

The Hon. B.V. FINNIGAN (Minister for Industrial Relations, Minister for State/Local Government Relations, Minister for Gambling) (15:19): I thank the Hon. Mr Hunter for his important question. I assure him that I did not get any shoes thrown at me, and neither did Julian Assange decide that he wanted to ask me a question by video. It was an important occasion and discussion about a very significant policy area.

The Southgate Institute for Health, Society and Equity at Flinders University administers the Southgate Policy Club to address topical issues of interest to academics, policy makers, the not-for-profit sector, governments and members of the community. As the Hon. Mr Hunter indicated, last week I participated in the panel of the Southgate Policy Club Q&A on gambling held at Flinders in the city in Victoria Square. The panel was chaired by Professor Malcolm Battersby, Director of the Centre for Gambling Research at Flinders University.

Along with myself, other panel members included our former colleague, Senator Nick Xenophon; Dr Charles Livingstone of Monash University, who is a leading academic in this field; Ms Sue Pinkerton, a reformed pokies addict and researcher; Mr Mark Henley of UnitingCare Wesley, who I am sure would be well known to all honourable members as someone who is very involved in assisting those who struggle with problem gambling; and Mr Ian Horne of the Australian Hotels Association.

As members would appreciate, the panel was varied and each member brought differing perspectives and expertise to this important topic. As I have previously informed the chamber, recent trials of voluntary pre-commitment schemes have shown promising preliminary results. Nevertheless, the detail of any pre-commitment model and how the system will be regulated is yet to be determined.

As I said, the panel represented a broad spectrum of views, from Senator Nick Xenophon, initially elected on a no pokies platform, who has continued to campaign actively on a number of related issues, to the industry, represented by the Australian Hotels Association's General Manager in this state, Ian Horne.

The diversity of the panel ensured that meaningful discussion on this subject was able to occur. The panel took questions from audience members, who represented the clubs and pubs industry as well as the not-for-profit sector, on a broad range of topics related to pre-commitment and gambling generally. The panel canvassed specific issues, such as a how a pre-commitment system might best work and what problems would need to be resolved before such a system could be introduced.

The focus of the debate centred mostly on whether a pre-commitment system should be mandatory or voluntary, and there were those panel members, particularly Mr Henley, who characterised the issue as very much being about consumer protection and consumer rights, rather than simply seeing it as a mechanism for targeting problem gamblers.

It was pleasing to participate in a well-informed and constructive discussion about this important policy matter, particularly given that the Select Council on Gambling Reform will be meeting in May in Canberra and considering a potential mandatory pre-commitment system, as the commonwealth has indicated that it intends to either introduce it itself or have it agreed between jurisdictions.

I would like to place on the record my appreciation to the Flinders University for organising these types of fora. I think it is important that discussions on topical issues occur in an open environment. They are of great assistance to policy makers and governments in implementing a reform that will have a significant impact on people, and not just those who play gaming machines, or pokies, but also, of course, those employed and others.

It is pleasing to see that industries, not-for-profit sectors, campaigners and academics were able to work together and share information and research on pre-commitment trials that have occurred nationally and internationally.

In the lead-up to the Select Council on Gambling Reform, it is of vital importance that we have a coordinated approach and that we work together to come up with the best system that we can in relation to this area, even though people do bring different perspectives to it. I understand that the video link of the Policy Club Q&A is to be uploaded onto the Flinders University website so that interested persons can watch the video.

It is certainly a very important policy area. The Select Council on Gambling Reform meeting in May is going to be very important in determining what pre-commitment system might be in place nationally. The commonwealth has indicated that it intends to have states and territories agree to a mandatory pre-commitment system by, I believe, 31 May and, if not, it intends to legislate. So, that is the parameters that the commonwealth brings to the discussion.

South Australia and other states and territories are examining pre-commitment trials and looking at what system is going to best serve the interests of those who participate in gaming activity, whether it be in addressing those who have a problem or those who are excessive in the way they play the pokies and need assistance to overcome that, or whether it is simply those who enjoy an occasional punt on poker machines. The South Australian government's position is still to be determined in light of what the commonwealth is proposing but, certainly, our approach will be based on the best evidence available and taking into account the best interests of gamblers, as well as the industry and those who are involved in this sector.