Nick Sherry (Tasmania, Australian Labor Party, Minister Assisting the Minister for Tourism) Share this | Hansard source

Yes, and South Australia. Under the AML/CTF Act, any payments made by gaming venues which are suspicious give rise to the obligation of the reporting entity to lodge a suspicious matter report with AUSTRAC. In addition, state and territory gaming regulators centrally monitor payouts from gaming machines. So, even if the current arrangements are not sufficient to meet your concerns, Senator Xenophon, you have raised the issue at this late point in time. I understand the constraints you work under. For that reason we are not going to support this amendment. We think it would have significance. For example, you referred to Mr Ball—whom I know—the CEO of the gaming industry, not wanting the sort of behaviour that you and some in the media claim is occurring. I suspect that is indeed the case, but I also suspect that Mr Ball and the club industry would be somewhat surprised to see an amendment of this significance moved to this legislation very late in the day. The government is willing to examine the claims that you make, but we are not willing to support an amendment of this type at this point in time.