For us to know and you NOT to find out - Victoria's Gambling Research to be selectively published

Victoria's Gambling Research Panel, disbanded a few months ago, had a reputation for conducting quality independent research which was published regardless of its outcomes. The new Ministerial Advisory Council which will assume the research responsibilities of the GRP, not only will have significant industry membership and is expected to be wary of conducting research with the potential to deliver outcomes negative to government and the gaming industry, but revelations presented in today's Age suggest that regardless of the results the research results do not have to be published.

The article available here expresses the concerns of anti-gambling groups such as CAPP and Interchurch Gambling Task Force at the decision.

My main concern is that if as quoted in the article, Minister for Gaming, John Pandazopoulos says research is going to continue to be published that the government opposed an amendment to have all produced reports tabled in parliament.

Is it possible that some of the research could now be on 'gaming studies' type research rather than community benefit research. By this I mean research into strategies to increase demand, spend etc. with the idea that this is in the public interest due to the revenues obtained? Maybe this is a stretch but the issue is that it opens up the new MAC to questions before it is even established.

Why is the government becoming so sensitive about gambling research? Do they have something to hide?

GG