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Poker Machine Harm Reduction Tax (Administration) Bill 2008
30 August 2011
© Commonwealth of Australia 2011 |
View the report as a single document - (PDF 20KB)
Poker Machine Harm Reduction Tax (Administration) Bill 2008
Background
1.1
On 14 February 2008, the Poker Machine Harm Reduction Tax
(Administration) Bill 2008 was introduced into the Senate by Senator Fielding.
On 12 March 2008, on the recommendation of the Senate Selection of Bills
Committee, the Senate referred the bill to the Senate Community Affairs
Committee for report.[1]
Previous inquiry
1.2
The Senate Community Affairs Committee agreed that due to the
overlapping subject matter, a single inquiry would be held on three bills
referred to it: the Poker Machine Harm Reduction Tax (Administration) Bill 2008;
the Poker Machine Harm Minimisation Bill 2008; and the ATMs and Cash Facilities
in Licensed Venues Bill 2008. A report on the three bills was tabled on 10
November 2008.[2]
1.3
The committee received 75 submissions covering all three bills and
conducted four public hearings. The committee also conducted a site visit to
the offices of IGT Australia at Rosebery in Sydney. In its report, the
committee concluded that passage of the three bills not be recommended at that
time as the Productivity Commission inquiry into gambling had not yet been
completed.[3]
Referral
1.4
On 30 September 2010 the bill was restored to the notice paper.[4] Following the establishment of the Joint Select Committee on Gambling Reform,
on 28 October 2010 the Poker Machine Harm Reduction Tax (Administration) Bill
2008 [2010] (the bill) was referred to the committee for inquiry and report in
line with the committee's terms of reference.[5]
The bill
1.5
The bill provides for the administration of a poker machine harm
reduction tax to be payable by a licensed operator on revenue derived from
licensed poker machines. It establishes the Poker Machine Harm Reduction
Transition Fund to fund community activities, prevention and rehabilitation
programs as well as educational programs highlighting the risk of gambling. The
bill is intended to administer a future Poker Machine Harm Reduction Act 2008
which would impose a gradually increasing tax rate on the revenues which
licensed operators obtain from poker machines.
Discharging the inquiry
1.6
The committee has decided to discharge this inquiry given the previous inquiry
conducted by the Senate Community Affairs Committee and the bill's dependence
on further legislation[6] which has not been introduced.
Recommendation 1
1.7
The committee recommends that this inquiry not be proceeded with and be
discharged from the notice paper.
Mr Andrew Wilkie MP
Chair
[1] Journals of the Senate, 12 March 2008, p. 205.
[2] Senate Community Affairs Committee, Poker Machine Harm Reduction Tax
(Administration) Bill 2008, Poker Machine Harm Minimisation Bill 2008
and ATMs and Cash Facilities in Licensed Venues Bill 2008, 10 November
2008.
[3] Senate Community Affairs Committee, Poker Machine Harm Reduction Tax
(Administration) Bill 2008, Poker Machine Harm Minimisation Bill 2008
and ATMs and Cash Facilities in Licensed Venues Bill 2008, 10 November
2008, p. 24.
[4] Journals of the Senate, 30 September 2010, p. 116.
[5] Journals of the Senate, 28 October 2010, p. 240.
[6] See Senate Community Affairs Committee, Poker Machine Harm Reduction
Tax (Administration) Bill 2008, Poker Machine Harm Minimisation Bill
2008 and ATMs and Cash Facilities in Licensed Venues Bill 2008, 10 November
2008, p. 15.
For further information, contact:
Committee Secretary
Joint Select Committee on Gambling Reform
PO Box 6100
Parliament House
Canberra ACT 2600
Australia
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