Sunday, November 19, 2006

THE Bracks Government has buckled to pressure over the integrity of its
gambling licence reviews, rushing out a confused policy late yesterday to
put a retired judge in charge of the process. Opposition Leader Ted
Baillieu, who called for a judicial inquiry into gaming issues on Wednesday,
said the Government's reaction was the "boldest admission" something
"stinks". Mr Bracks was accused this week of being too close to Tattersall's
lobbyist David White, a former Labor minister and Right-faction heavyweight.
Mr White boasted to his employers at the gaming company in 2003 about his
contacts in the top level of Government after dining privately at Lorne with
Mr Bracks and his wife, Terry. But even yesterday different arms of
Government seemed uncertain of the terms of its new policy. A press release
said the review would be into "gaming machine licences" - apparently
ignoring the recent storm of criticism over the renewal of the separate
lotteries licences. "While tenders are yet to be called for the gaming
licences, the Panel will add a final independent layer of scrutiny to the
process," Mr Bracks said in the statement. But a spokeswoman for Mr Bracks
later announced the review would cover all aspects of gambling, including
the lotteries licences review. This review, which was due to deliver a
finding two months ago, was delayed until after the election amid
allegations that the process had been unfair, had suffered political
interference, and that one or more participants had failed the probity
requirements. That process is now back before the Victorian Commission for
Gambling Regulation (VCGR), and Mr Bracks' spokeswoman confirmed the
commission's decision was also subject to review by the judicial panel. VCGR
executive commissioner Peter Cohen said he was "quite satisfied with its
processes", adding it would "cooperate fully with the panel". The panel will
also consider poker machine licences, due to be renewed in 2012, wagering
(racing) and club Keno licences.

Mr Baillieu responded to the review policy by calling for an "urgent
inquiry", and assurances that "all the documents associated with this are
not trashed, are not shredded".

"This stinks and the Premier knows it," Mr Baillieu said. "This is the
boldest admission when you are still trying to conceal what's going on. This
is a scandal and this is the evidence of it."

Opposition scrutiny of Government spokesman Richard Dalla-Riva said: "If
there is something that is highly corrupt by this Premier then there should
be a police investigation."

He said two Labor MPs were being investigated by police - member for Keilor,
George Seitz, and member for Ivanhoe, Craig Langdon. The matters do not
relate to gaming licences.

Mr Bracks said his licence review panel would be "an independent and
pristine process which will follow all the probity arrangements".

Its processes, unlike most others in the gambling area, would be conducted
openly, providing "assurances of transparency".

A Tattersall's spokesman said the company would work under any rules imposed
by whichever party won the election.