The Gaming Control Amendment (Community Interest) Bill 2016 was passed unamended by the Legislative Council tonight.
In March this year, the Hodgman Liberal Government stated its policy position was that the location of electronic gaming machines in new venues would be subject to a community interest test to be applied by the Tasmanian Liquor and Gaming Commission.
The provisions in this Bill that has now been passed by the Parliament, fulfil that commitment and will give local communities a greater voice in determining the future location of these machines in their community.
The new community interest test will be prescribed in regulations, a similar structural framework that applies in the case of liquor licensing.
In line with this Government's policy of transparency and accountability, the Government will request that the Tasmanian Liquor and Gaming Commission conducts a public consultation process to inform the consideration of community interest matters.
It’s expected that there will be a high level of interest in this process from all stakeholders.
As a result of the passage of this legislation, the application for a new gaming machine licence in Glenorchy and one in Moonah, will now have to satisfy the community interest test before any new gaming machines become operational.
The Hodgman Liberal Government has listened to the concerns of locals that they have not had a voice in determining new gaming machine venues in their community. This Bill delivers that voice.