Gambling (Reinstating COVID-19 Modification) Amendment Bill

on behalf of the Minister of Internal Affairs: I move, That the Gambling (Reinstating COVID-19 Modification) Amendment Bill be now read a second time.

This bill enables charities to draw lotteries online in order to raise funds for their causes. This type of fund-raising activities is considered class 3 gambling under the Gambling Act. Class 3 gambling activity is best described as small lottery-style gambling but requires a licence to operate. Prizes are offered or awarded in a gambling activity on one session of the gambling. Examples include housie, instant games, and gaming sessions otherwise known as casino evenings. It does not involve a gaming machine and is often run by a corporate society at in-person events. In order to gain a licence, the Department of Internal Affairs, as the regulator, must be satisfied that the charity is financially viable and that the costs will be minimised and returns to the community maximised.

The changes being made in this bill have already been through this House and select committee unopposed. I look forward to us being able to resolve this issue in the House today.

The question is that the motion be agreed to.

Thank you, Madam Speaker. I thought I’d just say a few words, rather than just continuing on the fastest democracy in the West, as they say. Just very quickly, ACT is going to support this. But how appropriate that we’re here at the end of the year fixing up a silly little mistake like this. Rushed legislation often has consequences like we’re seeing here.

We support granting more flexibility. These issues have been discussed and debated to operate as class 3 lotteries, and, as a board member of an incorporated society myself, I know—although we don’t run gambling—how difficult this has been for incorporated societies and charities, for their fundraising efforts this year and last year; how disruptive COVID-19 has been when you put just hours and hours and months into planning for events and things like that, and then suddenly alert levels change and you just lose everything. So it has been tough.

Anything like this bill that helps with sustainability for these organisations so that they can give more to the community is a good thing. But I won’t hold you up any more, because, if I do, you never know, it might expire again and we have to do this all again. So thank you, Madam Speaker.

The question is that the motion be agreed to.

Motion agreed to.

Bill read a second time.

In accordance with the determination of the Business Committee, this bill is set down for third reading forthwith.

Third Reading