Gambling
Public inquiry
Following a decision by the Council of Australian Governments, the Australian Government has asked the Productivity Commission to undertake a public inquiry into gambling.
The inquiry will provide an update on developments since the Commission's 1999 report, and can consider a wide range of issues, including:
- the nature and definition of gambling and the range of activities incorporated within this definition
- the participation profile of gambling, including problem gamblers and those at risk of problem gambling
- the economic impacts of the gambling industries, including industry size, growth, employment, organisation and interrelationships with other industries, such as tourism, leisure, other entertainment and retailing
- the social impacts of the gambling industries, the incidence of gambling abuse and the cost and nature of welfare support services necessary to address it
- the contribution of gambling revenue on community development activity and employment
- the effects of the regulatory structures - including licensing arrangements, entry and advertising restrictions, application of the mutuality principle and differing taxation arrangements - governing the gambling industries, including the implications of differing approaches for industry development and consumers
- the implications of new technologies (such as the Internet), including the effect on traditional government controls on the gambling industries
- the impact of gambling on Commonwealth, State and Territory budgets
- the impact that the introduction of harm minimisation measures at gambling venues has had on the prevalence of problem gambling and on those at risk
- evaluate the effectiveness and success of these harm minimisation measures used by the State and Territory Governments.
Further information
- Assistant Treasurer's media release (external link)
- Terms of reference
- About the public inquiry process
Contacts
Roberta Bausch (administrative matters)
Ph: 02 6240 3221
Monika Binder (other matters)
Ph: 02 6240 3238
Ineke Redmond (other matters)
Ph: 02 6240 3310
Email: gambling@pc.gov.au
Fax: 02 6240 3377
Freecall number for regional areas: 1800 020 083
Key documents and dates
- Issues paper - released 15 December 2008
- Circular: Inquiry progress (PDF - 21 Kb) - released 30 March 2009
- Circular: Extension of final reporting date (PDF - 20 Kb) - released 6 May 2009
- Extension letter from Assistant Treasurer (PDF - 37 Kb) - received 6 May 2009
- Draft report - released 21 October 2009
- Public hearings (7 transcripts)
- Submissions (415)
- Final report to Government - 26 February 2010
