The Carpenter government opposes the expansion of Keno gambling outside of Burswood Casino, citing social responsibility. The Minister questions the opposition's stance on the issue, based on a journalist's report.

AnsweredQoN 809Legislative Council
Asked
20 September 2007
Portfolio
Racing and Gaming

QuestionView source ↗

KENO GAMBLING
What is the Carpenter government’s position on Keno gambling outside Burswood Casino? Hon LJILJANNA RAVLICH

AnswerView source ↗

I thank Hon Graham Giffard for the question, because he always takes an interest in portfolio areas, particularly the racing and gaming portfolio. Earlier today a reporter from The West Australian asked me whether the government would accept a proposal by a consortium led by Burswood under which Keno gambling would be beamed via satellite to clubs and pubs throughout Western Australia. The reporter said something to the effect that even if the minister had not seen the detail of the proposal, would the government be able to say whether it would give in-principle agreement to such a proposal. The journalist understood that the opposition would support such a proposal. First, we need to understand whether the opposition would support such a proposal. The government’s position is that we oppose the expansion of casino-style gambling outside Burswood and into the community. We do that for all the right reasons because we are socially responsible and it is the right position to adopt. What really interested me was the fact that the journalist said that the opposition would endorse - Hon Simon O’Brien : Who was the journalist? Hon LJILJANNA RAVLICH : Kim MacDonald, who said that the opposition would endorse Keno gambling outside Burswood right throughout Western Australia. The question for me to ask is: is that the opposition’s position? The PRESIDENT : Order! I point out one thing about question time: members ask questions of ministers and ministers do not ask questions of members. Hon LJILJANNA RAVLICH : I thought we might just take the opportunity to see whether the opposition will make some changes. However, this government’s policy is to not support the expansion of keno into the community, and the government has no plan to change that position.
Hon LJILJANNA RAVLICH replied: I thank Hon Graham Giffard for the question, because he always takes an interest in portfolio areas, particularly the racing and gaming portfolio. Earlier today a reporter from The West Australian asked me whether the government would accept a proposal by a consortium led by Burswood under which Keno gambling would be beamed via satellite to clubs and pubs throughout Western Australia. The reporter said something to the effect that even if the minister had not seen the detail of the proposal, would the government be able to say whether it would give in-principle agreement to such a proposal. The journalist understood that the opposition would support such a proposal. First, we need to understand whether the opposition would support such a proposal. The government’s position is that we oppose the expansion of casino-style gambling outside Burswood and into the community. We do that for all the right reasons because we are socially responsible and it is the right position to adopt. What really interested me was the fact that the journalist said that the opposition would endorse - Hon Simon O’Brien : Who was the journalist? Hon LJILJANNA RAVLICH : Kim MacDonald, who said that the opposition would endorse Keno gambling outside Burswood right throughout Western Australia. The question for me to ask is: is that the opposition’s position? The PRESIDENT : Order! I point out one thing about question time: members ask questions of ministers and ministers do not ask questions of members. Hon LJILJANNA RAVLICH : I thought we might just take the opportunity to see whether the opposition will make some changes. However, this government’s policy is to not support the expansion of keno into the community, and the government has no plan to change that position.
I thank Hon Graham Giffard for the question, because he always takes an interest in portfolio areas, particularly the racing and gaming portfolio. Earlier today a reporter from The West Australian asked me whether the government would accept a proposal by a consortium led by Burswood under which Keno gambling would be beamed via satellite to clubs and pubs throughout Western Australia. The reporter said something to the effect that even if the minister had not seen the detail of the proposal, would the government be able to say whether it would give in-principle agreement to such a proposal. The journalist understood that the opposition would support such a proposal. First, we need to understand whether the opposition would support such a proposal. The government’s position is that we oppose the expansion of casino-style gambling outside Burswood and into the community. We do that for all the right reasons because we are socially responsible and it is the right position to adopt. What really interested me was the fact that the journalist said that the opposition would endorse - Hon Simon O’Brien : Who was the journalist? Hon LJILJANNA RAVLICH : Kim MacDonald, who said that the opposition would endorse Keno gambling outside Burswood right throughout Western Australia. The question for me to ask is: is that the opposition’s position? The PRESIDENT : Order! I point out one thing about question time: members ask questions of ministers and ministers do not ask questions of members. Hon LJILJANNA RAVLICH : I thought we might just take the opportunity to see whether the opposition will make some changes. However, this government’s policy is to not support the expansion of keno into the community, and the government has no plan to change that position.
Hon Simon O’Brien : Who was the journalist? Hon LJILJANNA RAVLICH : Kim MacDonald, who said that the opposition would endorse Keno gambling outside Burswood right throughout Western Australia. The question for me to ask is: is that the opposition’s position? The PRESIDENT : Order! I point out one thing about question time: members ask questions of ministers and ministers do not ask questions of members. Hon LJILJANNA RAVLICH : I thought we might just take the opportunity to see whether the opposition will make some changes. However, this government’s policy is to not support the expansion of keno into the community, and the government has no plan to change that position.
Hon LJILJANNA RAVLICH : Kim MacDonald, who said that the opposition would endorse Keno gambling outside Burswood right throughout Western Australia. The question for me to ask is: is that the opposition’s position? The PRESIDENT : Order! I point out one thing about question time: members ask questions of ministers and ministers do not ask questions of members. Hon LJILJANNA RAVLICH : I thought we might just take the opportunity to see whether the opposition will make some changes. However, this government’s policy is to not support the expansion of keno into the community, and the government has no plan to change that position.
The PRESIDENT : Order! I point out one thing about question time: members ask questions of ministers and ministers do not ask questions of members. Hon LJILJANNA RAVLICH : I thought we might just take the opportunity to see whether the opposition will make some changes. However, this government’s policy is to not support the expansion of keno into the community, and the government has no plan to change that position.
Hon LJILJANNA RAVLICH : I thought we might just take the opportunity to see whether the opposition will make some changes. However, this government’s policy is to not support the expansion of keno into the community, and the government has no plan to change that position.

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