Mark Arbib (NSW, Australian Labor Party, Minister for Social Housing and Homelessness) Share this | Hansard source

I thank Senator Sterle for his concern on the issue. Australia has always led the way in protecting the integrity of sport not only in this country but also overseas. During the eighties and nineties it was Australia that led the fight against doping with the establishment of the Australian Sports Anti-Doping Authority, ASADA, and Australia is leading the way now.

On Friday, it was my great pleasure to work with my state and territory collea­gues—sports ministers from across the country—and also with state Attorneys-General to reach an agreement to address match fixing and to protect the integrity of sport. After five months of work it is an astounding result for sport to have all Australian state governments presenting a united front against the scourge of illegal and irregular gambling. I thank all my ministerial colleagues from across Australia for their commitment to this issue.

The issues of match fixing and illegal and irregular gambling are growing day by day internationally. From Interpol, we have been alerted that the illegal gambling market is now worth $140 billion. At home we have seen incidents of match fixing and there are cases currently before the courts. There was a need to act and a need to act quickly.

It is important that all Australian sports lovers have confidence that our sports are being played fairly and that all our players are giving their best. Our athletes also deserve to know, whether they are competing here or overseas, that they are competing on a level and fair playing field. Cheating and corruption in sport erodes people's confidence in sport. It strikes at the very heart of sport. Given the seriousness of the threat, it is essential that we have a national policy to provide the foundation for all Australian governments, including pursuing nationally consistent legislative arrange­ments, integrity agreements between sports and the betting agencies and codes of conduct. (Time expired)