Legacy Report and Amendments to the National Gambling Bill: adoption

Meeting report

TRADE AND INDUSTRY PORTFOLIO COMMITTEE
24 February 2004
LEGACY REPORT AND AMENDMENTS TO THE NATIONAL GAMBLING BILL: ADOPTION

Chairperson:

National Gambling Bill [B48D-2003]

Summary
The amendments to the National Gambling Bill and the Committee's Legacy Report were adopted by the the Committee. Members requested that the new elected Committee have input into the regulations to follow.

MINUTES
The Chair explained that they had received the Report by the Select Committee on the amendments to the National Gambling Bill [B48C 2003}. They had agreed to adopt all the Select Committee's amendments last year but had not been able to do so formally as the Bill had not gone through the NCOP Plenary. The Bill was adopted with all amendments in the NCOP Plenary last week. The Committee could decide whether it wanted to discuss the amendments further or whether they wanted to accept it as they had discussed it previously. The issues of bussing people to casinos and the entrance to Grand West Casino at the same venue as family entertainment, could be dealt with once the Bill had been passed.

Prof Turok said the Bill had to go through urgently. It was however important that the Committee examine the regulations when they were drawn up. He said that the Department had to assurances them of this.

The Deputy Director General, Ms A Ludin, said inputs into the regulations from the Committee would be invaluable. She was however concerned about the timeframe as the next Committee meeting would only be after the elections.

Prof Turok said that regulations were not like laws as they could be changed on an ad hoc basis. The Bill was not the final judgment and would probably need final adjustments. It was therefore important that the subsequent Committee had input into the regulations.

The Chair said that the regulations had to be drawn up as soon as possible. He once again asked whether the amendment had to be discussed or whether it be regarded as discussed as at the previous meetings. He suggested the latter and as there were no objections, the formal report was read and adopted unanimously.

The Chair then read the Legacy Report to the Committee. There were no outstanding legislative matters before the Committee. As far as oversight was concerned, there were three briefings which the new Committee would have to deal with. These were the update on the WTO negotiations, briefing on the outcomes of the Cabinet Legkotla and the presentation of the last five years highlights. The report was adopted unanimously.

The Chair thanked the members for their participation over the past five years. Prof Turok then expressed a vote of thanks to the chair for his work.

The meeting was adjourned.

Appendix: Committee Legacy Report

COMMITTEE: PORTFOLIO COMMITTEE ON TRADE AND INDUSTRY (NA)
LEGACY REPORT - FEBRUARY 2004
Chairperson: Dr R. Davies

1. OUTSTANDING ISSUES
11 Legislation

There are no outstanding legislative matters before the committee.

1.2 Oversight
1.2.1 Briefings
The committee has recommended that the following oversight matters be deferred and/or be considered when the new House assembles after the national elections; and these are:

Update on the WTO negotiations

Briefing on the outcomes of the Cabinet Legkotla

Presentation of the last five years highlights

2. RECOMMENDATIONS AND CONCLUSIONS
The Portfolio Committee on Trade and Industry would also like to acknowledge the significant public interest of the legislative and oversight matters as mostly outlined in the parliamentary program for 2004. Accordingly, the committee is of the view that such matters would warrant public participation; and these inter alia include:

Public Hearings on the Co-operative Bill and Policy

Public Hearings on the Small Business Strategy

Possible public hearings on access to finance; and

Public hearings on the Consumer Credit Policy and Bill

3. FORMAL ADOPTION OF THE LEGACY REPORT BY THE COMMITTEE
The legacy report of the PC on Trade and Industry having been put to the Committee was adopted on the 24 February 2004.

Dr. P. Davies

COMMITTEE CHAIRPERSON DATE
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