Wed, 27 Nov 2019 - 10:35
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Second Reading Speech: National Self-exclusion Register (Cost Recovery Levy) Bill 2019

This is a companion Bill to the Interactive Gambling Amendment (National Self-exclusion) Bill 2019, which will establish legislation for the National Self‑Exclusion Register (Register) for online wagering.

This Bill will enable the Australian Communications and Media Authority (ACMA) to fully recover the costs associated with the Register, and related regulatory and compliance functions, from interactive wagering providers licensed in Australia through a cost‑recovery levy.  This levy will only recover costs covered in the Bill, and is not a revenue raising measure.

This Bill is enabling and mechanistic in character.  Details regarding the amount of charges and the method of charging will be determined before the Register is operational, and will be set in a subordinate legislative instrument.

Consistent with the Australian Government Charging Framework, costs will be apportioned to each interactive wagering provider, consistent with the regulatory effort they cause.  

All charging will be reported annually in the Cost Recovery Implementation Statement, which will be published to ensure transparency and accountability.

In summary, this Bill will enable the ACMA to fully recover the costs associated with the Register from interactive wagering providers licensed in Australia through a cost‑recovery levy.  The Government will consult with the interactive wagering industry when finalising the details of the cost recovery.