Hon Barry House asks about the potential impact of a proposed internet gambling ban on the racing industry and the Minister's plans to protect online betting via the TAB. Hon N.D. Griffiths expresses opposition to the ban and outlines actions taken to lobby against it.

AnsweredQoN 55Legislative Council
Asked
22 May 2001
Portfolio
Racing and Gaming

QuestionView source ↗

(1) Is the minister aware of proposals to ban gambling on the Internet and the potential of this measure to dramatically affect the racing industry? (2) What action does the minister intend to take to protect the average punter’s ability to place a bet with the Totalisator Agency Board over the Internet? Hon N.D. GRIFFITHS

AnswerView source ↗

(1)-(2) I am very much aware of the Howard Government’s ill-conceived proposition to ban gambling, including wagering on the Internet. Hon N.F. Moore: Do you support gambling on the Internet? Hon N.D. GRIFFITHS: Although the Western Australian Government does not want to see casino-type gambling proliferate in the community, it is opposed to the Howard Government’s proposed ban on wagering. I am aware of the damage that proposal would do to the TAB and to the operations of the Lotteries Commission. I trust the Howard Government will desist from its proposal. So far I have written to each Western Australian senator and I have raised the matter with the relevant federal minister, the federal Opposition and ministers in other Australian jurisdictions. I have raised the matter also with industry bodies and have asked them to raise the matter directly with Western Australians who represent us in Canberra. I raised the matter directly also with Senator Amanda Vanstone at a ministerial conference in Adelaide a few weeks ago. I understand that this Government’s action is similar to the action taken by the previous Government. Hon N.F. Moore: It is identical.
(2) What action does the minister intend to take to protect the average punter’s ability to place a bet with the Totalisator Agency Board over the Internet? Hon N.D. GRIFFITHS replied: (1)-(2) I am very much aware of the Howard Government’s ill-conceived proposition to ban gambling, including wagering on the Internet. Hon N.F. Moore: Do you support gambling on the Internet? Hon N.D. GRIFFITHS: Although the Western Australian Government does not want to see casino-type gambling proliferate in the community, it is opposed to the Howard Government’s proposed ban on wagering. I am aware of the damage that proposal would do to the TAB and to the operations of the Lotteries Commission. I trust the Howard Government will desist from its proposal. So far I have written to each Western Australian senator and I have raised the matter with the relevant federal minister, the federal Opposition and ministers in other Australian jurisdictions. I have raised the matter also with industry bodies and have asked them to raise the matter directly with Western Australians who represent us in Canberra. I raised the matter directly also with Senator Amanda Vanstone at a ministerial conference in Adelaide a few weeks ago. I understand that this Government’s action is similar to the action taken by the previous Government. Hon N.F. Moore: It is identical.
Hon N.D. GRIFFITHS replied: (1)-(2) I am very much aware of the Howard Government’s ill-conceived proposition to ban gambling, including wagering on the Internet. Hon N.F. Moore: Do you support gambling on the Internet? Hon N.D. GRIFFITHS: Although the Western Australian Government does not want to see casino-type gambling proliferate in the community, it is opposed to the Howard Government’s proposed ban on wagering. I am aware of the damage that proposal would do to the TAB and to the operations of the Lotteries Commission. I trust the Howard Government will desist from its proposal. So far I have written to each Western Australian senator and I have raised the matter with the relevant federal minister, the federal Opposition and ministers in other Australian jurisdictions. I have raised the matter also with industry bodies and have asked them to raise the matter directly with Western Australians who represent us in Canberra. I raised the matter directly also with Senator Amanda Vanstone at a ministerial conference in Adelaide a few weeks ago. I understand that this Government’s action is similar to the action taken by the previous Government. Hon N.F. Moore: It is identical.
(1)-(2) I am very much aware of the Howard Government’s ill-conceived proposition to ban gambling, including wagering on the Internet. Hon N.F. Moore: Do you support gambling on the Internet? Hon N.D. GRIFFITHS: Although the Western Australian Government does not want to see casino-type gambling proliferate in the community, it is opposed to the Howard Government’s proposed ban on wagering. I am aware of the damage that proposal would do to the TAB and to the operations of the Lotteries Commission. I trust the Howard Government will desist from its proposal. So far I have written to each Western Australian senator and I have raised the matter with the relevant federal minister, the federal Opposition and ministers in other Australian jurisdictions. I have raised the matter also with industry bodies and have asked them to raise the matter directly with Western Australians who represent us in Canberra. I raised the matter directly also with Senator Amanda Vanstone at a ministerial conference in Adelaide a few weeks ago. I understand that this Government’s action is similar to the action taken by the previous Government. Hon N.F. Moore: It is identical.
Hon N.F. Moore: Do you support gambling on the Internet? Hon N.D. GRIFFITHS: Although the Western Australian Government does not want to see casino-type gambling proliferate in the community, it is opposed to the Howard Government’s proposed ban on wagering. I am aware of the damage that proposal would do to the TAB and to the operations of the Lotteries Commission. I trust the Howard Government will desist from its proposal. So far I have written to each Western Australian senator and I have raised the matter with the relevant federal minister, the federal Opposition and ministers in other Australian jurisdictions. I have raised the matter also with industry bodies and have asked them to raise the matter directly with Western Australians who represent us in Canberra. I raised the matter directly also with Senator Amanda Vanstone at a ministerial conference in Adelaide a few weeks ago. I understand that this Government’s action is similar to the action taken by the previous Government. Hon N.F. Moore: It is identical.
Hon N.D. GRIFFITHS: Although the Western Australian Government does not want to see casino-type gambling proliferate in the community, it is opposed to the Howard Government’s proposed ban on wagering. I am aware of the damage that proposal would do to the TAB and to the operations of the Lotteries Commission. I trust the Howard Government will desist from its proposal. So far I have written to each Western Australian senator and I have raised the matter with the relevant federal minister, the federal Opposition and ministers in other Australian jurisdictions. I have raised the matter also with industry bodies and have asked them to raise the matter directly with Western Australians who represent us in Canberra. I raised the matter directly also with Senator Amanda Vanstone at a ministerial conference in Adelaide a few weeks ago. I understand that this Government’s action is similar to the action taken by the previous Government. Hon N.F. Moore: It is identical.
I understand that this Government’s action is similar to the action taken by the previous Government. Hon N.F. Moore: It is identical.
Hon N.F. Moore: It is identical.

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