Hawkins George: Gambling Amendment Bill (No 2) — First ReadingText is incorporated into the Bound VolumeHawkins George: Gambling Amendment Bill (No 2) — First Reading[Sitting date: 22 August 2007. Volume:641;Page:11415. Text is incorporated into the Bound Volume.]Hon GEORGE HAWKINS (Labour—Manurewa): Tonight we have listened to various speeches all basically in support of the first reading of the Gambling Amendment Bill (No 2) and its referral to the select committee. It is interesting that it is also a time of confession. We heard about Eric Roy’s dilemma over whether to go to the gambling parlour or the strip club. Obviously he chose correctly. We heard about Peter Brown and his days of being a sailor and gambling. We heard about Dr Sharples playing cards. Well I can tell members that when Parliament used to have all-night sittings plenty of gambling was going on around the offices here—and maybe the odd drop or two of whisky—and people used to play cards until the early hours of the morning.Hon Member: Bring it back!Hon GEORGE HAWKINS: Yes perhaps we could bring it back. It might be more interesting. Since it is time for confessions I tell the House that I was the Minister who took the original Gambling Bill through the House but people should not forget that gambling did not start in the year 2003. It has been going for a long time and of course we have tried to make sure that things are better than they were.I agree with Dr Sharples that the effect of pokie machines is very devastating in South Auckland. It is something that I believe is impacting on that community. On the other side of the coin of course are the sports clubs schools and cultural groups. I think Judy Turner mentioned St John Ambulance. All those groups have over the years become dependent on the income they receive from pokie trusts. I think it is quite good that they get money but of course becoming dependent on that money is something else.This bill is welcomed I think because we will look at some technical amendments. I imagine that those who submit on the bill will not make terribly many technical submissions. They will be either for or against gaming of any kind. It was not that long ago that Lotto started—20 years. Since it is time for confession I must say I have my tickets in my back pocket. I will probably be back here working next week because I will not win like lots of other people. That is what gambling is about. People have a little bit of hope. They think they will strike it big and it is worth maybe 20 bucks to have a go.Bob Clarkson: A bit like the Labour Government.Hon GEORGE HAWKINS: It is a bit like the National Government—a pack of gamblers from way back. They gamble against the ordinary taxpayer in New Zealand.I am pleased that the Minister is also taking up the much bigger issue which is the allegations about the Christchurch Casino. I think that is very very important.We have many people who are addicted to gambling. We feel sorry for those people who are addicted to alcohol and we do something about it. We spend almost $50 million a year on those with gaming addictions. That all comes out of the big pool of money and of course with that we are probably only scraping the surface. A lot of people do not know where to turn for help or they keep it from their families. When they hide it from their families there is a problem. In the Counties-Manukau area there are people who are still too scared to come forward for help. Sandra Goudie mentioned that a lot of money was available but people were not using it. That is one of the problems. It is an education problem—to get people to realise that if they have a mental health problem an addiction problem they can go for help.I am quite pleased that this bill will go to the select committee and as I said earlier people will make submissions. I doubt whether many of them will stick to the technical amendments. They will try to open the debate up again. I do not mind if people do that because I think talking about it is important. The publicity it will gain will help with the gaming issues in New Zealand. I support this bill’s referral to the select committee and I am sure people will welcome the opportunity to make submissions.Bill read a first time.Billreferred to the Government Administration Committee.