46048 (2024). Hon Dr Ayesha Verrall to the Minister of Internal Affairs

46048 (2024). Hon Dr Ayesha Verrall to the Minister of Internal Affairs: What progress, if any, has been made in the quarter (January to March 2024) on the action area ‘Ensure gambling operators are effectively preventing and minimising harm from gambling, and support the improvement of harm minimisation practices’ under ‘Objective 3: Strengthen leadership and accountability to achieve equity’ within the Ministry of Health’s Strategy to Prevent and Minimise Gambling Harm 2022/23 to 2024/25?

Hon Brooke van Velden: I am advised by the Department of Internal Affairs (the Department) that, in the period of January to March 2024, it has continued its risk-based and responsive inspections focussed on the harm prevention responsibilities of class 4 gambling venues under the Gambling Harm Prevention and Minimisation Amendment Regulations 2023. Where non-compliance was found, the Department took appropriate compliance and enforcement action in pubs and clubs that have class 4 operations (i.e. gaming machines or pokies). This has included the development of best-practice policies.