XN000022-1982-03-10 — Page 3

WEDNESDAY, MARCH 10, 1982

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NEED FOR STRONG SANCTIONS+ STRESSED

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RECENT EXPERIENCE WITH UNLICENSED OPERATORS OF VIDEO-GAME CENTRES, WITH THEIR CAVALIER ATTITUDE TOWARDS THE LAW, CALLED FOR STRONG SANCTIONS THAT WOULD FORCE THEM EITHER TO CLOSE OR TO OPERATE IN ACCEPTABLE REGULATED CIRCUMSTANCES.

THIS WAS STATED BY THE SECRETARY FOR HOME AFFAIRS, THE HON DENIS BRAY WHEN HE MOVED THE SECOND READING OF THE MISCELLANEOUS LICENCES (AMENDMENT) (NO.2) BILL 1982 IN THE LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL TODAY (WEDNESDAY).

THE BILL, WHICH WAS PASSED INTO LAW TODAY, PROVIDES FOR THE FINE FOR OPERATING UNLICENSED ESTABLISHMENTS TO BE INCREASED FROM $1 000 TO $50 000 AND FOR THE MANDATORY FORFEITURE OF MACHINES FOUND IN UNLICENSED CENTRES.

IT ALSO INTRODUCES A DEFINITION OF ESTABLISHMENTS REQUIRING LICENSING WHICH WOULD COVER SCORELESS MACHINES. THESE ESTABLISHMENTS ARE NOW CALLED +AMUSEMENT GAME CENTRES+,

A SCHEDULE IS INCLUDED IN THE DEFINITION OF +AMUSEMENT GAME CENTRES+ TO ALLOW FOR THE INCLUSION OF ANY NEW MACHINES BY ORDER OF THE GOVERNOR-IN-COUNCIL, HE SAID.

MR BRAY SAID THE EMERGENCE OF SCORELESS MACHINES HAD NOT BEEN FORESEEN DURING DRAFTING OF THE LAST AMENDMENT BILL BECAUSE A GREAT PART OF THE ENJOYMENT OF THE SKILLED PLAYERS WAS ACHIEVING A VERY HIGH SCORE.

+AS ABOUT 100 ESTABLISHMENTS HAVE SPRUNG UP WITH THESE MACHINES THERE CLEARLY IS SUFFICIENT CONSUMER INTEREST FOR THEM TO BE TAKEN SERIOUSLY, HE SAID.

MR BRAY SAID HE HAD RECEIVED ADVICE FROM THE LEGAL DEPARTMENT THAT SOME OF THESE MACHINES, WHICH STILL HAD REFERENCE TO A SCORE ON THEIR COMPUTER PROGRAMMES, ALTHOUGH NOT ACTUALLY DISPLAYING THE SCORE, WERE ARGUABLY COVERED BY THE PRESENT ORDINANCE.

+HOWEVER. IT IS VERY EASY TO RE-PROGRAMME THE CIRCUITS TO CIRCUMVENT THIS AND IN SOME MACHINES THIS MAY HAVE BEEN DONE ALREADY.+

MR BRAY SAID VIDEO OR AMUSEMENT GAMES WERE FOUND IN AN AREA OF RAPID TECHNOLOGICAL DEVELOPMENT. THE NEW BILL, HE ADDED, PROVIDES FOR LEGISLATIVE FLEXIBILITY IN DEALING WITH FUTURE INNOVATIONS AND, SHOULD MORE LOOPHOLES BE FOUND, THEY CAN BE STOPPED VERY QUICKLY.

HOWEVER, THE BILL ALSO INCLUDES ANOTHER SCHEDULE WHICH ALLOWS FOR EXEMPTION OF MACHINES OR PREMISES FROM LICENCE REQUIREMENT. THESE INCLUDE, FOR INSTANCE, STRENGTH-TESTING MACHINES COMMONLY SEEN IN FUN FAIRS, OR A FUND-RAISING PARTY USING VIDEO-GAME MACHINES FOR CHARITABLE PURPOSES.

/ON THE