Collins Judith: Questions for Oral Answer — Questions to Ministers 
Collins Judith: Questions for Oral Answer — Questions to Ministers 
[Volume:611;Page:8668] 
10.  
JUDITH COLLINS (NZ National—Clevedon) 
 to the  
Minister of Internal Affairs 
: What is the forecast extra revenue to be generated by the Lotteries Commission’s ability to operate Internet or interactive gaming as passed in the Gambling Bill? 
Hon GEORGE HAWKINS (Minister of Internal Affairs) 
: 
 The move to remote interactive gambling will help to address the decline in sales that the commission has experienced. Any increase in revenue is likely to be modest and gradual. 
Hon Roger Sowry 
: I raise a point of order Mr Speaker. That was a classic example. The question was about the forecast extra revenue. If a forecast was done and I am certain it was then the Minister surely could either say he was not going to give the forecast or give it. But he should not give an answer—especially when he had several hours’ notice of the question—where he does not give the forecast. 
Mr SPEAKER 
: Now that the member raises that point I want to say that I heard about three or four interjections that distracted me when the Minister was giving the answer. They should not have been made. Now that my attention has been drawn to it perhaps the Minister could expand on the answer. 
Hon GEORGE HAWKINS 
: I can say that those figures are not worked out yet. I am not a soothsayer. 
Judith Collins 
: If he cannot answer that question what reports has he received about the expected number of problem gamblers likely to use the Internet gambling to be provided by the Lotteries Commission? 
Hon GEORGE HAWKINS 
: We already have Internet gambling in New Zealand at the TAB and that has not produced a large increase in problem gamblers. 
Luamanuvao Winnie Laban 
: What controls does the Gambling Act place on Internet gambling? 
Hon GEORGE HAWKINS 
: The Gambling Act allows only the TAB and the Lotteries Commission to operate remote interactive gambling. Lotteries are generally the least harmful form of gambling even when they are offered on the Internet because of the delay between the time of entry and the draw and because the interactive element is minimal. 
Peter Brown 
: Noting those answers does the Minister accept the view of many many professionals worldwide that accessibility to gambling leads to more problem gambling—and interactive gambling will make gambling more accessible—if so how does he justify overruling the select committee without any democratic mandate to do so? 
Hon GEORGE HAWKINS 
: I remind the member that a majority of this Parliament passed that bill with a majority of 10. Parliament did that; no one else. It could have voted the legislation down if it had wanted to. 
Sue Bradford 
: Why did the Government refuse not only to take the advice of the select committee but also to take the advice of the expert academics and problem-gambling treatment providers who were assembled at the third international conference on problem gambling held in Auckland last week who passed a resolution calling on the Government to reject New Zealand - based Internet gaming because of the harm it will do and has done in many overseas jurisdictions? 
Hon GEORGE HAWKINS 
: I took the view that there was more good for the population at large and because many good features were put in place to help those with problem-gambling addictions. 
Hon Peter Dunne 
: How does the Minister reconcile the introduction of interactive-gaming facilities by the Lotteries Commission with the fact that last week alone New Zealanders spent over $20 million buying Lotto tickets in pursuit of a jackpot? 
Hon GEORGE HAWKINS 
: I think last week showed that most New Zealanders want to have a little flutter occasionally. We realise that gambling does cause harm to perhaps 1 to 3 percent of the community. I am sure most people participating on Saturday night thought the result was excellent. 
Judith Collins 
: What does the Minister say to the comments made today by Major Campbell Roberts from the Salvation Army that “Salvation Army centres along with members of the NZCCSS are seeing daily major impacts on New Zealand families through gambling excess.” and that they are “devastated that without public consultation and in disregard of the recommendations of the select committee these new amendments were introduced and passed.”? 
Hon GEORGE HAWKINS 
: I say he ought to look at all the evidence including the comments of Dave Macpherson who is welcoming a reduction of approximately 80 pokie machines in Hamilton alone.