2016-03-09
Colleen Hartland asks a Question in Parliament: My question is to the Minister for Small Business, Innovation and Trade in his capacity as representing the Minister for Consumer Affairs, Gaming and Liquor Regulation. It has come to my attention that the report that Crown Casino wrote analysing the gambling behaviour of individuals, including gambling intensity, duration and frequency of gambling, as a tool to identify potential problem gamblers has been completed, but the freedom of information department at the Victorian Commission for Gambling and Liquor Regulation has rejected releasing this report. This report is of the utmost community importance. It could show the negative impacts of pokies machines that allow $50 bets or show excessive use of pokies by some punters, for example. Having this information would enable us to better target legislative reform to reduce the harms of problem gambling. Will the minister use her powers to request that this information be made public and transparent to the community?
Mr DALIDAKIS (Minister for Small Business, Innovation and Trade)—I thank the member for her question. I will take the question on notice and pass that onto the minister responsible.
Supplementary question
Ms HARTLAND (Western Metropolitan)—Under the new legislative arrangements, the casino receives compensation when any measures are put in place to curb problem gambling that impact negatively on its bottom line. This report would provide us with information that I think would warrant legislative reform. Can the minister see that there appears to be a conflict of interest here? If the government does not pursue the release of this report, it will actually save in payouts to the casino as well as potentially in regard to government revenue. Does the government in that case deny that there is actually a conflict of interest in this matter?
Mr DALIDAKIS (Minister for Small Business, Innovation and Trade)—Again I refer to the substantive answer. I will take that question on notice and refer it to the appropriate minister in the other place.