Paul Scarr (Queensland, Liberal Party) | Hansard source

I think it is absolutely crucial that there be a national regulator. It was a strong recommendation coming out of the Murphy report. We've heard about the egregious wrongdoing of these companies. The evidence that came out of the Senate committee that looked at this legislation was clear. The recommendation from the Murphy report was clear. Again, I reiterate: it was a unanimous recommendation, supported by three members of the coalition. And one of those members of the coalition, the Hon. Pat Conaghan, crossed the floor in the House of Representatives in relation to this point, and I take this opportunity to commend Pat and also my dear friend Andrew Wallace from Queensland.

I do not see how you are going to implement and enforce the additional safeguards that you say are contained in this legislation without a national regulator, without a strong cop on the beat. And I don't understand why ACMA is being given all these responsibilities, as opposed to a bespoke regulator dealing with the gambling industry, especially given the evidence we've heard and the information Senator Pocock has shared with this committee with respect to the Northern Territory regulatory system. I mean, it is just farcical, absolutely farcical. If ever there was a message coming out of evidence given to a committee, it was that we need a national regulator—and a strong national regulator.