The Battle For Victoria's Lotteries Licencse
With regards to the Victoria's lotteries licenses, Intralot S.A., a Greek betting technology company, won a ten year license to operate lottery and instant games in the state of Victoria. This new license follows the international tender process operations and will start July 1, 2008. Previously, the monopoly of the public lottery was held for 54 years by gaming corporation Tattersalls where Victorians spend more than AUD $1.2 Billion a year on games like Tattslotto, Oz Lotto, Powerball, Keno and Instant Money Lotteries and held by gaming corporation Tattersalls. Premier John Brumby is quoted as saying "This competition will ensure a substantially better return to Victoria over the next 10 years than if an exclusive license had been awarded to one company."
The issue over the control of these licenses is that The Labor Upper House Leader, Treasurer John Lenders wants to keep these licenses private. He feels that it would be going beyond constitutional powers if these documents were to be released. Lenders, "What I am being asked to do is breach the Gambling Regulation Act 2003. I am being asked by a house of parliament to breach an act of parliament - an act of both houses." According to Philip Davis, Liberal Upper House Leader, by keeping the documents private it can be construed that The Government is hiding something. He feels that Victorians won't be confident in the gaming licensing if it is kept confidential.
It is anticipated this week The Liberals, Nationals, DLP and Greens will use their power this week and place Lenders in contempt of Parliament's lawful processes. Prominent NSW lawyer Bret Walker, SC advises that parliaments do have the right to request these documents. The Government feels on the contrary that this advice indicates a misunderstanding of Victorian Constitution; and the documents in question are confidentially protected in the Gambling Regulation Act. This week's proceedings should prove to be engaging at that.