Senate Environment and Communications Legislation Committee
3 August 2026
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Senate Environment and Communications Legislation Committee Australian Parliament
11:35 - 13:30
Speaker 1
I declare open this second hearing of the Senate Environment and Communications Legislation Committee's inquiry into the Interactive Gambling Amendment (Gambling Reform) Bill 2026 and the National Self-Exclusion Register (Cost Recovery Levy) Amendment Bill 2026. I begin by acknowledging the traditional custodians of the land on which we meet and pay my respects to their elders past and present.
I extend that respect to any Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people here today. These are public hearings being audio streamed live via the Parliament's website and a Hansard transcript is being made. If there are no objections, the committee authorizes media recording and photography of the committee's proceedings in accordance with Senate Resolution 3. I remind media that this permission can be revoked at any time and the media must follow the direction of secretariat staff. I remind all witnesses that in giving evidence to the committee they are protected by parliamentary privilege.
It is unlawful for anyone to threaten or disadvantage a witness on account of evidence given to a committee, and such action may be treated by the Senate as a contempt. It is also a contempt to give false or misleading evidence. The committee generally prefers evidence to be given in public, but under the Senate's resolutions, witnesses have the right to request to be heard in private session. The Senate has resolved that an officer of a department of the Commonwealth or of a state shall not be asked to give opinions on matters of policy and should be given a reasonable opportunity to refer questions asked of the officer to superior officers or to a minister. This resolution does not preclude questions asking for explanations of policies or factual questions about when and how policies were adopted.
If a witness objects to answering a question, they should state the ground upon which the objection is made and the committee will determine whether it will insist on an answer having regard to the ground which is claimed. If the committee determines to insist on an answer, a witness may request that the answer be given in camera. Commonwealth officers appearing today are also reminded of the Senate's order specifying the process by which a claim of public interest immunity should be raised. A copy of the order is available from the secretariat. I remind senators of their obligations under the behavior code of Australian parliamentarians to treat witnesses with dignity, courtesy, fairness and respect.
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