On August 25 the Environment, Communication, Information Technology and The Arts Committee for the Australian Senate heard testimony from numerous groups to decide whether a moratorium on Internet gambling in Australia should be implemented. The committed heard testimony from 23 witnesses, including operators, regulators and licensing officials, as well as Internet gambling opponents.
The testimony was then used, along with written submissions made to the Committee, to develop the Australian Senate Committee Report on Moratorium Bill, which was released in early September. Despite a multitude of testimony and submissions explaining that a moratorium was ill-conceived and unlikely to help the very citizens it was designated protect, the Committee remained committed to a moratorium.
Nonetheless, the federal government has yet tovote the moratorium into law, leaving many operators on tenterhooks. To date, both Lasseters and Centrebet officials have indicated that a move out of Australia is likely should the moratorium go into affect.
Title: ENVIRONMENT, COMMUNICATION, INFORMATION TECHNOLOGY AND THE ARTS: Interactive Gambling (Moratorium) Bill 2000: Start of Business
Date: 25 August 2000 Committee: ENVIRONMENT, COMMUNICATION, INFORMATION TECHNOLOGY AND THE ARTS
Reference: Interactive Gambling (Moratorium) Bill 2000
Place: Canberra
Page: 1
Proof: YES
Database: Committees Considering Bills
Source: Senate
SENATE ENVIRONMENT, COMMUNICATIONS, INFORMATION TECHNOLOGYAND THE ARTS LEGISLATION COMMITTEE
Friday, 25 August 2000
Members: Senator Eggleston (Chair), Senators Bartlett, Bishop, Bolkus, Calvert and Tchen
Substitute members: Senator Stott Despoja to substitute for Senator Bartlet for matters relating to information technology. Senator Lundy to substitue for Senator Bolkus for the committee's inquiry into the Interactive Gambling (Moratorium) Bill 2000
Participating members: Senators Abetz, Boswell, Bourne, Brown, George Campbell, Carr, Chapman, Coonan, Crane, Faulkner, Ferguson, Ferris, Gibson, Harradine, Hutchins, Knowles, Lees, Lightfoot, Lundy, Macky, Mason, McGauran, McLucas, Murphy, Schacht and Watson
Senators in attendance: Senators Bishop, Eggleston and Lundy
Terms of reference for the inquiry:
Interactive Gambling (Moratorium) Bill 2000
Committee met at 8.35 a.m.
Testimony:
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