Lole-Taylor Asenati: Gambling (Gambling Harm Reduction) Amendment Bill — Second ReadingText is incorporated into the Bound VolumeLole-Taylor Asenati: Gambling (Gambling Harm Reduction) Amendment Bill — Second Reading[Sitting date: 10 July 2013. Volume:692;Page:11905. Text is incorporated into the Bound Volume.]Le’aufa’amulia ASENATI LOLE-TAYLOR (NZ First):New Zealand First remains unchanged in its position on the Gambling (Gambling Harm Reduction) Amendment Bill. This bill is intended to reduce harm caused by gambling to communities and families. It aims to achieve this objective by ensuring that the proceeds of gambling are distributed back into the community from which they came and to give communities greater control over gambling operations. These are laudable goals of course. However we have serious reservations about the workability clarity and legal efficacy of the bill before the House.First let us address some of the changes recommended to the House by the Commerce Committee.Hon Simon Bridges: Why is this member emailing Trevor Mallard?Le’aufa’amulia ASENATI LOLE-TAYLOR: Listen Simon Bridges you might learn something. When this bill was debated at its first reading we raised an objection to clause 5. This clause would have seen racing removed as an authorised purpose in section 4 of the Gambling Act. There are 63 racing clubs throughout New Zealand. These clubs have been recognised by the High Court as non-commercial—non-commercial. They are non-profit organisations that function in much the same way as sports clubs—Hon Simon Bridges: Prove it.Le’aufa’amulia ASENATI LOLE-TAYLOR: Do not get lost in your thoughts honourable Minister; it is unfamiliar territory. To treat them differently under the law for political purposes would have been a low blow even for the National Government. So it is with great relief that we acknowledge the deletion of clause 5.The second change that the select committee has recommended to the House is in regard to the distribution of funding within localities. Clause 6(1) of the bill proposed that 80 percent of all funds derived from gambling be mandatorily distributed back into the same territorial authority in which they were raised. We said we were prepared to support such an amendment with the proviso that the responsibility for managing thesefunds be established within a national framework rather than left up to individual authorities. At present 36 percent is given back. Mr Flavell actually wanted 80 percent. He got only up to 40 percent which is a mere 4 percent increase from the current status. That takes it from 36 percent to 40 percent. This much-watered-down bill now proposes to replace the clause 6 amendment with an instruction to the Department of Internal Affairs to simply take into account the geographical area where proceeds were generated. In other words—Hon Simon Bridges: She’s forming her own party Denis.Le’aufa’amulia ASENATI LOLE-TAYLOR: —in other words honourable Minister nothing really changes. New Zealand First was prepared to reconsider its position on MrFlavell’s bill if and when appropriate changes were made.Hon Simon Bridges: They’re the Government that spent a lot of money on travel—changed nothing.Le’aufa’amulia ASENATI LOLE-TAYLOR: Oh we have got somebody over there who is very smart. You know a smart man believes only half of what he hears; a wise man knows which half—a wise man knows which half. Unfortunately this much-watered-down version does nothing to alleviate our concerns.Hon Simon Bridges: That was pretty good.Le’aufa’amulia ASENATI LOLE-TAYLOR: I know it is pretty good.New Zealand First acknowledges that gambling is a serious problem in the community. It is a serious problem in the community. That is why we opposed the Skycity pokies deal. It is also why we were the first party to raise concerns about the sordid relationship between China Southern Airlines and Skycity. However this bill offers no solution. It offers nothing but more bureaucracy and broken promises from the National -Māori Party alliance. I believe that MrFlavell’s Gambling (Gambling Harm Reduction) Amendment Bill just like the flailingMāori Party itself should be consigned to the dustbin of history. Thank you.