The Taskforce on Gambling is releasing a report today that describes an independent regulatory framework for the whole gambling industry in South Australia.

Chair of the Heads of Christian Churches, Lieutenant Colonel Victor Poke said "The Christian community across South Australia is deeply concerned about the problems caused by gambling and the harm caused to individuals, families and communities. The Taskforce on Gambling was established to prayerfully and thoughtfully develop a Churches response to gambling problems. This report is significant in that it proposes a comprehensive framework that recognises gambling as a major industry and sets flexible, independent structures that can work to minimise the harm caused by gambling."

Key recommendations of the report include:

• Appointment of a Minister for Gambling
• Creation of an Independent Gambling Authority
• Expansion of the roles and functions of the Commissioner for Liquor and Gaming.
• Bringing the regulation of all gambling codes together under one framework, with consistent rules and practices.
• Community input into license applications for licenses for new gambling products and locations, through social impact assessments
• Harm minimisation to be core responsibility of proposed Independent Gambling Authority.
• Establishment of an advisory group to the Authority that includes expertise from major interests in the gambling industry.
• Emphasis on Regulation rather than legislation (the recent focus on legislation, particularly through private members bills and convoluted parliamentary process has limited effectiveness)

Mr. Poke concluded with an appeal to both houses of the State parliament saying, "The parliament has a number of important gambling issues before it, in the current session, proposals to sell TAB and Lotteries, a report on Internet gambling and calls to cap the number of Pokies. The Churches urge the parliament to put the well being of citizens before further expansion of gambling. The regulatory structures proposed in our report provide a real opportunity for responsible government and responsible gambling."