Independent MLA Helen Szuty demanded yesterday a detailed inquiry into the Vitab affair, listing nine points that should be looked at.
She welcomed the call by the Chief Minister, Rosemary Follett, on Friday for an inquiry to clear the air, but said it would have to be a thorough one.
She wanted an inquiry under the Inquiries Act chaired by someone who would be seen to be independent and who had a legal and or financial background.
She indicated that if a government-appointed inquiry were a whitewash or limited inquiry she would press for a more extensive Assembly inquiry.
The Vitab affair arose after the ACT TAB signed a contract with the Vanuatu-based Vitab under which Vitab would have access to the TAB super pool of bets from the ACT, Victoria, South Australia, Western Australia, Tasmania and the Northern Territory. The ACT would provide computer links and training and receive a 1.5 per cent commission on turnover. Vitab would pay an 85 per cent return, just like ACTTAB, but would not pay the ACT Government or the ACT racing industry out of the balance, as does ACTTAB.
The arrangement was to attract Asian punters. However, concerns were raised that Australians might bet through Vitab, denying revenue to state and territory governments and racing industries.
Last week, Victoria cut-off the ACT’s access to the super pool. The Victorian Minister for Sport, (SUBS pick up name from p1 friday plse) Reynolds saying primarily because of Vitab.
The Minister for Sport, Wayne Berry, has defended the deal saying it has already turned a profit for the ACT.
Ms Szuty’s nine points to be included in the inquiry were: who was behind Vitab; which Vitab people approached which people in the ACT and/or which people in the ACT approached which people in Vitab, and when; if and when ACTTAB informed other Australian TABs about Vitab; whether the contract is ethical ensuring that only overseas punters could access Vitab; what procedures were in place to deny Australians access, particularly those who might bet through Asian agents; whether the financial terms were advantageous or disadvantageous to the Territory; who was responsible in the Victoria for denying ACT access tot he pool; whether Vitab is likely to prevent a new pooling arrangement with NSW.
Under the Inquiries Act, an inquiry would have the power to subpoena witnesses and documents. However, it could provide some interesting battles of claims of executive privilege, or privilege for commercial-in-confidence documents. Another issue might be whether the inquiry could force people to attend from interstate or overseas, where most of the Vitab players are. Former Prime Minister Bob Hawke, a key Vitab shareholder who attended the public launch of the Vitab-ACT deal last year, has shown his reluctance to attend inquiries in Canberra by telling the Senate’s print media inquiry that he was too busy writing his memoirs to attend a hearing, though he has now agreed to attend.
Ms Szuty and Independent Michael Moore have been looking a Vitab information to see whether they will support a no-confidence motion in Mr Berry foreshadowed by the Leader of the Opposition, Kate Carnell.
Ms Follett said on the ABC Matt Abraham Show on Friday that she supported Mr Berry.
If a no-confidence motion in Mr Berry were passed and Ms Follett refused to act on it that would then result in the Independents moving against Ms Follett’s Government. However, that is hypothetical at this stage. Mr Moore has said he has seen nothing yet that would warrant a Minister having to resign on the issue.