Casino Control and Other Legislation Amendment Bill 2022

As Attorney-General, introduced the bill and moved amendments including increasing the maximum pecuniary penalty to $100 million and providing for the appointment of a special manager to oversee casino remediation, implementing recommendations from the Gotterson review.

“The Palaszczuk government is committed to ensuring that casinos in Queensland are safe and responsible and adhere to the high standard of conduct expected of them by the community.”— 2022-10-13View Hansard

Supported strong casino regulation but heavily criticised the bill as rushed and half-baked, with 27 pages of amendments dropped on the day of debate. Argued the Gotterson inquiry's terms of reference were too narrow to examine the regulator's relationship with Star or the influence of Labor lobbyists.

“This bill is a rushed and half-baked attempt to address that deficiency.”— 2022-10-13View Hansard

As committee chair, outlined the committee's examination of the bill and its recommendation to pass it. Detailed the bill's mechanisms for strengthening casino regulation, expanding information-gathering powers and facilitating cashless gambling.

“I commend the Attorney-General for her response on 13 September when she commented on the findings and allegations of criminal infiltration, money laundering and institutional concealment presented at the NSW inquiry.”— 2022-10-13View Hansard

Supported measures to reduce gambling harm and thwart criminal activity but criticised the bill as rushed and a missed opportunity, arguing the Gotterson review's narrow terms of reference prevented scrutiny of the regulator and Labor's links to Star.

“After being so slow to act, now we see the state government is forced to rush this bill through and, sadly, it represents a missed opportunity to enhance Queensland's casino regulatory framework.”— 2022-10-13View Hansard

Supported the bill and the government's acceptance of Gotterson's 12 recommendations, noting the bill provides reassurance that the government is keeping the best interests of Queenslanders in mind.

“This bill and the amendments provide reassurance to me that this government is keeping the best interests of all Queenslanders uppermost in mind.”— 2022-10-13View Hansard

Supported the bill's intent to strengthen casino integrity but raised concerns about cashless gaming proceeding without accompanying harm minimisation measures, and the expansion of simulated wagering without a risk assessment. Found it difficult to fully support the bill given last-minute amendments that could not be properly scrutinised.

“Waiting until this report was delivered would have allowed more work to be done on the issues that were raised during the inquiry including whether any recommendations should flow on to other gaming environments.”— 2022-10-13View Hansard

Supported the bill as bringing about immediate and necessary reform to strengthen casino integrity, backing the Attorney-General's decisive action in introducing the bill when she did rather than waiting for the Gotterson report.

“When the government reaches the point where a reasonable person would suspect that there is a problem and that the problem is likely to impact significantly and negatively on Queenslanders—and it is within the government's authority to act—then the government should act.”— 2022-10-13View Hansard

Supported the bill but characterised it as a massive missed opportunity, arguing the government was circling the wagons to protect itself from scrutiny over the OLGR's failure to take enforcement action against Star and the narrow terms of reference of the Gotterson inquiry.

“This bill looks awfully like the government is circling the wagons to protect themselves from attack for their failure in the casino regulation space, timed deliberately to head off criticism in respect of their own misdeeds.”— 2022-10-13View Hansard

Accepted the bill and Gotterson's recommendations but criticised the inquiry's severely curtailed scope compared to the NSW Bell inquiry, and raised concerns about the tension between the government's regulatory duty and casino revenue, including hospitality accepted by a former attorney-general from Star.

“Star has been found unsuitable to hold a gambling licence here and will shortly be issued with a show cause notice by the government.”— 2022-10-13View Hansard

Supported the bill's harm reduction aspects and cashless gaming framework, noting cashless payments are more traceable for both criminality and helping gamblers track spending, and highlighted the Cancer Council's submission about banning smoking in premium gaming rooms.

“We as parliamentarians need to balance the considerable benefits to the economy with the significant issues it can cause for some members of the community.”— 2022-10-13View Hansard

Supported the bill as a minor but welcome attempt to rein in the gambling industry, but expressed serious doubts about Labor's commitment given gambling industry donations to the Labor Party and the government's refusal to release the Queen's Wharf lease terms.

“If this government were serious about stamping out the criminal conduct of their mates in the gambling industry, then it would not be taking their money.”— 2022-10-13View Hansard

Supported the bill's measures to ensure casino operators meet the highest standards of integrity, governance, transparency and compliance, and welcomed the Attorney-General's foreshadowed amendments to increase penalties to $100 million.

“Casino operators and licensees should be required to meet the highest possible standards of integrity, governance, transparency and compliance to reduce those risks and protect the community.”— 2022-10-13View Hansard

Supported measures to reduce gambling harm but criticised the bill as premature and the late amendments as impossible to properly scrutinise. Opposed a second casino for the Gold Coast and called for stronger controls around casino operations and problem gambling.

“Despite the narrowness of the scope and the capacity for the government to have drafted a bill with greater protections and harm reductions, the LNP will always support measures to reduce gambling harm and therefore we support the measures of the bill.”— 2022-10-13View Hansard

Supported the bill as strengthening casino integrity and ensuring operations remain free from criminal influence, and praised the shift from 'responsible gambling' to 'safer gambling' under the Gambling Harm Minimisation Plan.

“Tougher gambling laws means tougher measures to ensure compliance requirements are met with increased penalties and pushes for more gambling harm minimisation measures.”— 2022-10-13View Hansard

Supported the bill's measures to reduce gambling harm but criticised the narrow terms of reference of the Gotterson review and the government's unwillingness to scrutinise the OLGR's monitoring of Star, including the decline in inspections and prosecutions since COVID.

“Whilst the LNP support the bill with measures to reduce gambling harm, it highlights the government's unwillingness to open itself to scrutiny and look at its role in monitoring the conduct of our casinos.”— 2022-10-13View Hansard