Legislative Council Fifty-Second Parliament, First Session (52-1) 52 1 Parliament of South Australia Legislative Council published Bills Casino (Enclosed Areas) Amendment Bill CASINO (ENCLOSED AREAS) AMENDMENT BILL Introduction and First Reading Introduction and First Reading The Hon. J.A. DARLEY Legislative Council The Hon. J.A. DARLEY (16:20): Obtained leave and introduced a bill for an act to amend the Casino Act 1997. Read a first time. Second Reading Second Reading The Hon. J.A. DARLEY Legislative Council The Hon. J.A. DARLEY (16:22): I move: That this bill be now read a second time. This bill is in response to the Adelaide Casino's recent attempt to operate poker machines in an outdoor smoking area situated within the Casino atrium, otherwise known as the Oasis. Members may recall that on 10 March The Advertiser newspaper printed an article highlighting the fact that the Casino had shifted 20 of its poker machines outdoors, in order to allow patrons to smoke while they gambled. As soon as this came to my attention I, along with my colleague Senator Nick Xenophon, wrote to the Minister for Gambling, drawing his attention to our concerns over the Casino's actions. On the same day, the Minister for Gambling issued a ministerial statement indicating that, following a visit to the Casino by liquor and gambling inspectors, the gaming machines in that outdoor area were disabled and that the commissioner's inspectorate will continue to monitor the area to ensure that the machines remain disabled. Further, the minister stated that he was seeking additional advice on steps necessary to ensure that Casino gambling areas remain smoke free, and that if this requires an amendment to the Casino Act, then this is what the government intends to do. On that same day, I also indicated my intention to introduce a bill to ensure that the Casino Act makes it expressly clear that gambling within any outdoor smoking area is prohibited. This is the intention of the bill before us. I commend the minister for taking immediate action in relation to the Casino and I have already indicated to him that I would be happy to support any bill proposed by the government that would achieve the same result, provided, of course, this is done in a timely manner. The Casino showed a blatant disregard for the government's smoke-free gambling policy by installing and operating poker machines in an outdoor smoking area. Their actions fly in the face of the existing legislative scheme, as well as research which shows that there is a strong link between smoking and problem gambling. It is absolutely crucial to ensure that the Casino does not attempt to engage in this type of behaviour again. I commend the bill to the house. Debate adjourned on motion of Hon. I.K. Hunter.