[Greens-Media] Baillieu rejects Greens liquor and gambling transparency amendment - Hartland

[Elizabeth.Ingham at parliament.vic.gov.au]

A Greens amendment to avoid conflict of interest by new Liquor and 
Gambling Commissioners was rejected by the Baillieu government in 
Victorian parliament today, 

"Alcohol and gambling have always been sensitive to influence peddling and 
corruption.  If the government wants to combine the regulation of those 
industries into one commission and take VCAT out of the equation it should 
have strong probity guidelines, and public transparency on any conflict of 
interest," said Victorian Greens gambling spokesperson Colleen Hartland 
MLC.

"The new commissioners are meant to have experience within the industry, 
so it is possible they will make decisions about former colleagues or 
former business rivals, or even a family member but there is no way for 
this to be disclosed to the public."

"The new Commission will have a concentration of powers.  It will decide 
all licence applications and make disciplinary decisions.  It will even 
hear the appeals internally, instead of VCAT." 

"The Greens amendment provided for any conflict of interest by a 
commissioner hearing an application or appeal to be published on the new 
Commission's website."

"I don't understand why the government has a problem with such a simple 
probity measure, especially since the new law allows people who have been 
disqualified from holding a liquor licence themselves to become 
commissioners two years later."

"Public disclosure via the website wouldn't cost anything, but it would be 
an effective transparency measure.  The government's failure to support 
the Greens transparency amendment is worrying," said Ms Hartland

For comment: Colleen Hartland - 9689 6373


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Liz Ingham
Office of Colleen Hartland MLC
Western Metropolitan Region

A: 75 Victoria Street, Seddon 3011
P: 9689 6373
M: 0409 333 595
F: 9689 6227
E: elizabeth.ingham at parliament.vic.gov.au
W: http://mps.vic.greens.org.au

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Parliament of Victoria                                                                                                                    . 
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