Inquiry into Poker Machine Harm Reduction Tax (Administration) Bill
2008
Reason for referral of the Bill and information relating to the
reference
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On 12 March 2008 the
Senate, on the recommendation of the Selection of Bills Committee,
referred the Poker Machine Harm Reduction Tax (Administration) Bill 2008
to the Community Affairs Committee. The reporting date is 12 August 2008.
Note: The inquiry into this Bill has now been combined with the inquiry
into Poker Machine Harm Minimisation Bill 2008, and the reporting date has
been extended to 10 November 2008.
Reasons provided for
referral of the Bill and the principal issues for consideration are:
Poker machines are a
major community concern for Australia today. Family First's Poker
Machine Harm Reduction Tax (Administration) Bill 2008 would introduce
a new federal tax on poker machines in pubs and clubs to push pokies out
of these community venues and restrict them to casinos and racetracks,
which are dedicated gambling venues.
Poker machines are no
good for families:
- About
293,000 people have a significant gambling problem in Australia and
about 85% of problem gamblers use poker machines;
- About
52% of problem gamblers said they had borrowed money and not paid it
back, 36% said they had sold property to raise money to bet and 43% said
they sometimes went without food to pay for their addiction. One in four
suffered divorce or separation and one in 10 had seriously contemplated
suicide;
- On average
around seven other people are affected by a severe problem gambler's
behaviour. That's around 2 million Australians;
- More than
50% of regular poker machine users are problem gamblers or at risk of
becoming problem gamblers.
The Bill and second
reading speech may be accessed via the link:
Legislation and documentation to the Bill
The Committee invites you
to provide a written submission addressing issues that may be of relevance
to you. The submission should be lodged by 13 June 2008. The Committee
prefers to receive submissions electronically as an attached document –
email:
community.affairs.sen@aph.gov.au
– otherwise by fax (02 6277 5829).
Submissions become
Committee documents and are made public only after a decision by the
Committee. Publication of submissions includes loading them onto the
internet and their being available to other interested parties including
the media. Persons making submissions must not release them without the
approval of the Committee. Submissions are covered by parliamentary
privilege but the unauthorised release of them is not protected.
Information relating to
Senate Committee inquiries, including notes to assist in the preparation
of submissions for a Committee, can be located on the Internet at
http://www.aph.gov.au/senate/committee/wit_sub/index.htm
Should you require
further information please contact the Committee Secretariat on
(02) 6277 3515.
E-mail: community.affairs.sen@aph.gov.au
For further information, contact:
Committee Secretary
Senate Standing Committee on Community Affairs
PO Box 6100
Parliament House
Canberra ACT 2600
Australia
Comments to: web.senate@aph.gov.au
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