Legislative Council, Tuesday 9 November 2021

Ms FORREST (Murchison) - Mr President, I rise to speak on this bill, a bill that is very complex, not least due to the complexity of the taxing and licensing arrangements, but also as an amending bill which you really must have the principal act on hand to cross-reference.

I did think when reading through, scrutinising every clause that a completely new gaming control bill might have been a much easier option.

Add to this the vast array of proposed amendments, and it makes for a very complex task and one I will not support working late into the night to deal with this bill. A bill that clearly requires full and proper scrutiny and understanding.

We all know decision-making is impaired when people are fatigued.

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It's a terrible cliché but Tasmania is really at the crossroads.

The last few months of life in the corridors of powers has been a deeply unsettling experience.

The carefully nurtured growth in the Legislative Council as a respected house of review no longer has a majority of Independent Members. When both major parties join up there is little we can do to ensure full and proper scrutiny of legislation.

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You can listen to me speak on my proposed amendment to Clause 155, Gaming Control Amendment (Future Gaming Market) Bill 2021 relating to EGM licence fees and taxes, as well as my reply to other members comments here.

The transcript of this speech can be viewed here:

 https://ruthforrest.com.au/parliament/speeches/legislation

The tabled document referred to in my speech is available here:

The Gaming Control Amendment (Future Gaming Market) Bill 2021 is currently before the Legislative Council.

Listen to my speech here:

PLACEMAKING is a process centred on the community's assets that focuses on its people, capitalising on their needs and aspirations with the aim of creating public spaces that promote people's health, happiness and wellbeing. COVID-19 has made us more aware of the importance of community.

Waratah-Wynyard Council has been 'walking the talk' in recent years and residents will be aware of a number of beautification projects taking shape, including improved walking tracks, more public art, beautiful seasonal garden tubs adorning the main street, and a new plaza complete with excellent facilities and beautiful public art in the town centre.

There are clear health and wellbeing benefits from our engagement with art and nature generally.

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The 2021-22 health budget includes many initiatives seeking to address the long-standing pressures and failures in our acute health services.

These pressures existed prior to the COVID-19 pandemic which has clearly exposed many of our vulnerabilities.

Before, and as to be expected, during COVID we have continued to see waiting lists that are unacceptable, even with the latest figures showing some improvement - 11,007 people actually still waiting for surgery including 1033 people in category 1 (urgent cases where patients should be treated within 30 days), it is clear we have a lot of work to do.

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