❓ Hon. Kate Doust questions the Minister for Racing and Gaming regarding changes to inspector rostering at Crown Perth, citing concerns about monitoring and cost-effectiveness. The Minister clarifies the situation, stating the department did not announce a cut to inspectors and explains the rationale behind the rostering changes.
AnsweredQoN 1142Legislative Council
QuestionView source ↗
CROWN
PERTH — DEPARTMENT OF RACING, GAMING AND LIQUOR INSPECTORS
1142. Hon KATE DOUST to the
Minister for Racing and Gaming:
I refer to the
recent announcement by the Department of Racing, Gaming and Liquor to cut the
number of Crown Perth inspectors that was outlined in the PerthNow article
published on 8 October 2015.
(1) Given we only have one casino in the
state, why cannot departmental inspectors monitor the complex 24 hours a day as
they do in Victoria and New South Wales?
(2) What is the cost of monitoring the
casino gaming operations each year under the current inspector rostering at
Crown Perth?
(3) What will be the cost of monitoring the
casino gaming operations each year under the new inspector rostering at Crown
Perth?
(4) What other licensed venues will inspectors operate in?
(5) What will be the cost–benefit to the state?
(6) What brought the
government to adopt this position?
PERTH — DEPARTMENT OF RACING, GAMING AND LIQUOR INSPECTORS
1142. Hon KATE DOUST to the
Minister for Racing and Gaming:
I refer to the
recent announcement by the Department of Racing, Gaming and Liquor to cut the
number of Crown Perth inspectors that was outlined in the PerthNow article
published on 8 October 2015.
(1) Given we only have one casino in the
state, why cannot departmental inspectors monitor the complex 24 hours a day as
they do in Victoria and New South Wales?
(2) What is the cost of monitoring the
casino gaming operations each year under the current inspector rostering at
Crown Perth?
(3) What will be the cost of monitoring the
casino gaming operations each year under the new inspector rostering at Crown
Perth?
(4) What other licensed venues will inspectors operate in?
(5) What will be the cost–benefit to the state?
(6) What brought the
government to adopt this position?
AnswerView source ↗
I thank the
honourable member for some notice of the question.
The department did
not announce a cut to Department of Racing, Gaming and Liquor inspectors; this
has been incorrectly reported.
(1) Since 2002, the Gaming and Wagering
Commission has relied upon an audit-based approach to regulation, which
provides for a cost-effective use of inspectorate resources. Accordingly,
inspectors have not been assigned to monitor the casino complex on a 24-hour
basis since 2002.
Crown Perth operates within a regulatory framework of operating policies
and procedures approved by the commission for gaming and other key
transactions. Inspectors' roles revolve around the audit and inspection
of these activities to ensure ongoing compliance with those requirements.
(2) The cost of monitoring the integrity of
gaming operations at the casino is reported in the commission's annual
report. For 2014–15 the cost was reported as $240 874.
(3) There is expected to be an annual
reduction of approximately $37 500 in the salary costs of the inspectorate due
to a reduction in shift penalties and allowances paid.
(4) Inspectors from the Department of
Racing, Gaming and Liquor operate in liquor licensed premises and also conduct
audits and inspections of premises and venues of licensed wagering operators or
where gaming takes place under a permit.
The changes at the casino are rostering changes and inspectors have in
the past inspected, and will continue to inspect, other premises.
(5) The benefit to the state from changing
inspectors' rosters will be greater flexibility in the use of
inspectorate resources. Under existing arrangements, inspectors were rostered
at the casino for full shifts, which has resulted in some underutilisation.
(6) It was greater
efficiency and flexibility in the use of inspectorate resources.
honourable member for some notice of the question.
The department did
not announce a cut to Department of Racing, Gaming and Liquor inspectors; this
has been incorrectly reported.
(1) Since 2002, the Gaming and Wagering
Commission has relied upon an audit-based approach to regulation, which
provides for a cost-effective use of inspectorate resources. Accordingly,
inspectors have not been assigned to monitor the casino complex on a 24-hour
basis since 2002.
Crown Perth operates within a regulatory framework of operating policies
and procedures approved by the commission for gaming and other key
transactions. Inspectors' roles revolve around the audit and inspection
of these activities to ensure ongoing compliance with those requirements.
(2) The cost of monitoring the integrity of
gaming operations at the casino is reported in the commission's annual
report. For 2014–15 the cost was reported as $240 874.
(3) There is expected to be an annual
reduction of approximately $37 500 in the salary costs of the inspectorate due
to a reduction in shift penalties and allowances paid.
(4) Inspectors from the Department of
Racing, Gaming and Liquor operate in liquor licensed premises and also conduct
audits and inspections of premises and venues of licensed wagering operators or
where gaming takes place under a permit.
The changes at the casino are rostering changes and inspectors have in
the past inspected, and will continue to inspect, other premises.
(5) The benefit to the state from changing
inspectors' rosters will be greater flexibility in the use of
inspectorate resources. Under existing arrangements, inspectors were rostered
at the casino for full shifts, which has resulted in some underutilisation.
(6) It was greater
efficiency and flexibility in the use of inspectorate resources.
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