Online Auction the Next Step in Reshaping Gaming Industry
Source: Victoria. Minister for Gaming. Media Release
"Gaming Minister Tony Robinson announced the online auction of gaming machine entitlements will start on 20 April 2010. Mr Robinson said registered hotels and clubs would bid for 10-year gaming machine entitlements in an online auction held over a series of rounds starting on 20 April 2010 and concluding on 10 May 2010 at a one day, final bidding round to be held at the former Melbourne Convention Centre.“Our Government is reshaping the gaming industry in Victoria,” he said.“Under the post-2012 structure, venues will bid directly for 10-year gaming machine entitlements.“The gaming machine industry has matured in Victoria, and the time is right to empower local venue operators to make local decisions about their gaming operations – giving them more responsibility and accountability within their local communities.” Mr Robinson said the online auction system had been purpose-built to allocate gaming machine entitlements in line with Government policies limiting machine numbers across Victoria."

Hassle Free Nights
Source: New South Wales. Premier. Media Release.
"The NSW Government launched a range of new initiatives – including additional late night bus services, new rules on party buses and secure taxi ranks - to help people enjoy their nights out free from alcohol-related violence. The $4 million action plan, Hassle Free Nights will be rolled out to popular nightspots. Hassle Free Nights will be trialled for 12 months. A report will then be provided to the community." Web site. Action Plan. Fact Sheet.

NSW Lotteries sale
Source: NSW. Treasurer. Media release.
"NSW Treasurer Eric Roozendaal announced the sale of NSW Lotteries – which will deliver the people of NSW total proceeds of more than $1 billion. Mr Roozendaal said the NSW Government has accepted a binding offer to transfer NSW Lotteries Corporation to Tatts Group Limited in a transaction that will deliver NSW taxpayers total proceeds of approximately $1.01 billion.
As part of the transaction, Tatts Group will be granted an exclusive, 40-year licence to conduct public lotteries (excluding Keno) throughout the State."

Casino Control Amendment Bill 2010
Source: NSW. Minister for Racing and Gambling. Media Release.
"NSW Gaming and Racing Minister Kevin Greene said the Casino Control Amendment Bill 2010 builds a new level of co-operation between all Australian State and Territory police in formally excluding criminals from casinos. "These laws ensure criminals banned from interstate casinos are also, as a matter of course, banned from Star City," Mr Greene said."

NEW TAFE PARTNERSHIP FOR RACING
Source: NSW. Minister for Racing and Gaming. Media Release.
"Racing NSW and TAFE NSW launched a historic training partnership to secure a growing national and international interest in the Thoroughbred racing industry. Minister Kevin Greene said the partnership with Western Sydney Institute will deliver training and education to the industry’s current and future workers. “The NSW Thoroughbred Racing Industry is a major employer in NSW and this partnership between TAFE and Racing NSW is a ‘win win’ for both the State and the NSW Racing Industry,” Mr Greene said."

Historic reforms to curb drink-driving, drug-driving
Source: ACT. Chief Minister
"Chief Minister and Minister for Transport Jon Stanhope will introduce a historic package of reforms to anti-drink-driving laws and legislate for roadside drug-testing to curb Canberra's culture of dangerous driving and to prevent deaths on ACT roads.
Mr Stanhope said the reforms were currently being drafted and would be presented to an upcoming road safety roundtable on 10 March 2010.
The reforms include greater restrictions on access to restricted licences and new sanctions for high-level or repeat drink-driving offences such as the immediate suspension of licences by police. The blood alcohol limit for learners (L-platers and P-platers) and drivers of public vehicles would be lowered from 0.02 to zero and alcohol education courses would be mandatory for drink-drivers wanting to be re-licensed. "

GOVERNMENT TO LEGISLATE FOR FREE WATER IN LICENSED VENUES
Source: Victoria. Minister for Consumer Affairs. Media Release
"The Brumby Labor Government is introducing new laws requiring Victoria’s licensed venues to provide free water to their patrons, Consumer Affairs Minister Tony Robinson announced. Mr Robinson said making venues provide free water as a condition of running a licensed business would help reduce the potential for drunken trouble in our pubs and clubs and on our streets.“The Brumby Labor Government is determined to encourage a safer drinking culture in Victoria by ensuring licensees serve alcohol responsibly and patrons drink sensibly,” he said. Free drinking water will help reduce drunkenness by making it easier for patrons to have a non-alcoholic drink while they are out, slowing down the rate of intoxication."

New laws to protect problem gamblers
Source: Queensland. Minister for Tourism and Fair Trading. Media Release
"Problem gamblers in Queensland will receive better support in trying to kick the habit following changes to gaming laws. Through the changes gaming operators can now be fined up to $4000 for advertising directly to gamblers who have chosen to exclude themselves from gaming venues. A person who requests to be banned from a gaming venue such as a casino is known as an “excluded person”, and many Queenslanders who are fighting gambling problems choose to do this as a step on the road to recovery. Until recently the distribution of gambling-related promotional material to excluded persons was only considered a breach of the industry’s voluntary Code of Practice. With the introduction of new laws, gaming operators can now face up to $4000 in penalties for distributing advertising or promotional material to a known excluded person."

GOVERNMENT MOVES TO BOLSTER VICTORIAN RACING
Source: Victoria. Minister for Racing. Media Release
"The Brumby Labor Government will introduce amending legislation to Parliament soon to further protect Victorian racing industry revenue, Deputy Premier and Racing Minister Rob Hulls said. Mr Hulls said the amendment followed a recent Supreme Court decision in which TAB Ltd challenged the legality of Racing Victoria Ltd (RVL) and Greyhound Racing Victoria to charge fees in accordance with a formula based on gross revenue.“As a consequence of this recent Supreme Court decision, uncertainty has been created about the way in which Victorian racing charges wagering operators for betting on our racing,” Mr Hulls said.“The Government will be removing any uncertainty to make clear its policy intention that anyone who profits from Victorian racing makes a reasonable contribution towards the costs of putting on the show.”Mr Hulls said the legislation would be introduced as soon as possible and would ensure racing codes could charge a fee for the use of race fields based on a commercial formula.“The amending legislation will apply from 4 September 2008, when the relevant provisions commenced in the original race fields legislation which was pioneered by this Government and followed by all other states,” Mr Hulls said."

Massive new investment in Queensland racing industry: Magic Millions redevelopment first cab off the rank
Source: Queensland. Treasurer and Minister for Employment and Economic Development. Media Release
"The Bligh Government will help ‘usher in a new era’ for the racing industry, with a funding package of more than $80 million over four years to redevelop key facilities across the state.
Treasurer Andrew Fraser said the funding package, sourced from the redirection of half of the revenue gained from wagering taxes, will help revitalise an industry that has been estimated to directly and indirectly employ 43,000 people across the state."

MANDATORY INTERLOCK SCHEME TAKES FULL EFFECT
Source: SA. Minister for Road Safety. Media Release.
"Up to 2,700 serious drink driving offenders in South Australia are expected to have interlocks fitted to their vehicles next year when tough new laws come into full effect in January."

NEW GRADUATES TO HELP TACKLE PROBLEM GAMBLING
Source: NSW. Minister for Gaming and Racing. Media Release.
"NSW officially welcomed the first 29 counselling graduates from an innovative training course developed to build on the expertise of those who help people deal with Problem Gambling.
"The NSW Government takes problem gambling very seriously which is why through the Responsible Gaming Fund the Government has invested $900,000 developing and implementing the program."

NEW ONLINE APPLICATION SERVICE FOR LIQUOR LICENCES
Source: NSW. Minister for Gaming and Racing. Media Release.
"The NSW Government has moved to strengthen licensing practices by streamlining online application processes. Gaming and Racing Minister Kevin Greene said the new system will help not for profit groups as well as Police and Councils."

Bligh Government considers major funding boost for racing industry
Source: Queensland. Minister for Tourism and Fair Trading. Media Release
"The Bligh Government is considering a major capital injection for the racing industry, Minister responsible for Racing Peter Lawlor said. Senior government officials met this week with the Chairs of the three racing control bodies – Queensland Racing Limited, Queensland Harness Racing Limited and Greyhounds Queensland Limited to look at ways to strengthen and unite the industry through an integrated control body."

NEW GUIDELINES FOR RESPONSIBLE DRINK PROMOTIONS
Source: Victoria. Minister for Consumer Affairs. Media Release
"New guidelines on drink promotions and advertising will help make Victoria’s licensed venues safer by encouraging the more responsible service of alcohol, Consumer Affairs Minister Tony Robinson announced. Mr Robinson said the Guidelines for Responsible Liquor Advertising and Promotions were developed to clarify the Director of Liquor Licensing’s powers to ban inappropriate alcohol advertising and promotions for licensees.“The Brumby Labor Government wants people to enjoy a night out in safety and is taking action to ensure alcohol is served responsibly in our pubs and clubs to help reduce alcohol-related crime and violence,” he said. We’ve given the Director of Liquor Licensing the power to ban drink promotions and advertising because the way alcohol is sold and marketed can influence the way patrons drink and act, encouraging excessive drinking and antisocial behaviour."

NEW POLICE POWERS TO PENALISE SUMMER DRUNKS
Source: Victoria. Minister for Police & Emergency Services. Media Release
"Drunk and disorderly behaviour will attract an immediate $234 fine thanks to new Brumby Government laws that kick into action from today. Police and Emergency Services Minister Bob Cameron said under the Government’s Summary Offences and Control of Weapons Acts Amendment Bill, which takes effect from today, drunks and those acting in a disorderly manner can now be fined to further deter bad behaviour.“This action comes on the heels on last weekend’s successful police blitz on drunk and anti-social behaviour through Operation Unite,” Mr Cameron said. Victoria Police will continue operations throughout the summer months to target unruly behaviour and as of today they now have greater powers to deal with drunks and anti-social behaviour."

New draft strategy to continue to reduce harmful impacts of drug use
Source: ACT. Minister for Health
"Tobacco and alcohol are the drugs that cause the most harm in Australian society. Together, they account for 92% of Australian drug-related deaths, 84% of the drug-related burden of disease and injury, and 83% of the drug-related social costs. This draft Strategy focuses on the drugs associated with the greatest harms and responds with measures understood to be the most effective. "

No more pokies for Queensland
Source: Queensland. Minister for Tourism and Fair Trading. Media Release
"A new scheme that will provide incentives for clubs to reduce the number of poker machines was today launched, following legislative amendments to the Gaming Machine Act 1991. Minister responsible for gaming, Peter Lawlor MP, unveiled the new market-driven scheme, which allows Queensland clubs to transfer and sell gaming machine entitlements from 30 November 2009. “The new scheme will mean no new pokies for Queensland, but greater incentives for community clubs to reduce their number of machines,” said Minister Lawlor. This industry initiative allows clubs to trade gaming machine entitlements, under an existing State-wide cap set last year at 24,705.”

NEW DVD BUSTS MYTHS ABOUT THE POKIES
Source: NS. Minister for Gaming and Racing. Media Release.
"The NSW Government released a new DVD today that attacks commonly-held poker machine
superstitions and myths in an effort to reduce problem gambling. Gaming and Racing Minister Kevin Greene met with problem gambling staff at Mission Australia in Campsie to launch the free DVD, which shows how poker machines work and outlines the remote chances of winning a jackpot."

ALCOHOL RESTRICTIONS IMPOSED ON VIOLENT PUBS AND CLUBS
Source: NSW. Minister for Gaming and Racing. Media Release.
"The NSW Government named the 66 licensed venues that will face new restrictions
aimed at driving down alcohol-related assaults and anti-social behaviour. Gaming and Racing Minister Kevin Greene said 19 Level 1 and 47 Level 2 venues will be subject to the new system of special conditions from December 1."