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Legislative Council - Fifty-First Parliament, Third Session (51-3)
2009-02-19 Daily Xml
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SKYCITY

The Hon. D.G.E. HOOD (14:44): I seek leave to make a brief explanation before asking the Minister for Gambling a question about SkyCity Adelaide Casino.

Leave granted.

The Hon. D.G.E. HOOD: Earlier this week the minister provided me with some surprising data regarding crime and Office of the Liquor and Gambling Commissioner breaches detected at SkyCity casino. There were some 477 thefts and other crimes in SkyCity between 2002 and 2007. Further, the number of breaches of procedures detected by the Office of the Liquor and Gambling Commissioner at SkyCity has tripled in the past three years from 47 in 2005 to 95 in 2006 and 151 in 2007. My questions are:

1. Will the minister explain the rapid and substantial increase in breaches of procedures and incidence of crime at SkyCity casino?

2. What will the minister do to reduce crime and serious breaches of procedures at the casino?

The Hon. CARMEL ZOLLO (Minister for Correctional Services, Minister for Road Safety, Minister for Gambling, Minister Assisting the Minister for Multicultural Affairs) (14:45): The honourable member may be aware that very shortly I will be introducing legislation into the parliament that will see increased compliance in all gaming venues, including the casino, and a different way of administering that compliance. It is my intention to have the legislation before the council, hopefully, in the next few weeks.

At the same time as I introduce the legislation, we will be providing a copy on the internet of the responses to the bill that was out for consultation. There were some 11 responses and they will be provided on the internet. It is my intention to make available a system that we hope will work to reduce the number of gaming machines in our state. It is my intention to have that legislation lie before the council; I am not certain of the time—I am still taking advice—whether it be a month or perhaps a few weeks more so that people can feed back information to us.

Clearly, as a government we are ensuring that we do see more responsible gambling in our state. I have talked on a number of occasions about the various initiatives that we have undertaken. The casino has the Host Responsibility scheme in terms of its problem gamblers, and we have Club Safe, as well, and Gaming Care. We have barring mechanisms. Again, I have placed on record that we have no fewer than six barring mechanisms in our state.

I have asked for an inquiry, which is being held at present, and 24 February will be an inquiry day where people can go forward independently and express their views as to whether we need to do things better in terms of the inquiry. Barring also includes family protection orders. A lot of initiatives have been introduced recently, including the new code of practice on 1 December, but there is more legislation to come before this parliament, on which I look forward to support and good debate.

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