Tuesday, 12 May 2026

 Bev McARTHUR (Western Victoria) (12:14): (1309) My question is to the Minister for Casino, Gaming and Liquor Regulation. Minister, the Premier has said the Lottery Corporation’s 40-year lottery licence award was dealt with through a full and open process, but the Lottery Corporation and its own lawyers have said it followed exclusive bilateral negotiations. Which description is correct, Minister?

 Enver ERDOGAN (Northern Metropolitan – Minister for Casino, Gaming and Liquor Regulation, Minister for Environment, Minister for Outdoor Recreation) (12:15): I thank Mrs McArthur for her question, for her interest in my casino, gaming and liquor regulation portfolio and for giving me the opportunity to outline how we have delivered the highest price ever paid for an Australian lottery licence in the history of this nation. I am proud of the agreement we have reached, an agreement that brings us into line with other jurisdictions in terms of having a 40-year contract and extension for a licence of this kind for a public lottery, which is a longstanding, lower risk and highly regulated part of Victoria’s gambling system.

In relation to those comments, I can confirm to the chamber that the government undertook a comprehensive licensing and market assessment process supported by detailed commercial advice.

Michael Galea interjected.

Enver ERDOGAN: That was a point of order, I thought, that was called. No? Mr Galea, thank you for your interjection.

But that process included market sounding and assessment of domestic and international industry participants. We were supported by commercial advice. That means looking at who was capable within the international and domestic market to be able to deliver these services, understanding that the TattsLotto corporation has been doing this work in Victoria since 1954. Following that process, the best value for Victorians was achieved through a negotiation with the existing licence holder, and that is consistent with an approach that has been taken in other jurisdictions.

 Bev McARTHUR (Western Victoria) (12:16): Thank you, Minister. That was hardly an answer, but if you are saying, as you sort of half suggested, that this was a full and open process, will you now table the registration of interest tender or market-testing documents?

 Enver ERDOGAN (Northern Metropolitan – Minister for Casino, Gaming and Liquor Regulation, Minister for Environment, Minister for Outdoor Recreation) (12:17): I thank Mrs McArthur for her question in relation to this matter. Mrs McArthur, you would well understand that many of these documents are commercial in confidence, and I do not intend to waive any legal privilege either. These are important contracts for good reason, because they are an integrity risk. This is an ASX-listed company we are talking about and an important agreement about extracting value for our state – value that will be reinvested in services that there will be less of under Jess. Let us be clear: this will be reinvested into services that Victorians rely on.

Wendy Lovell: On a point of order, President, I think the minister may want to correct his first answer. I think he referred to the TattsLotto corporation. TattsLotto is not a corporation. TattsLotto is merely a game. It was initiated by Tattersall’s but is now run by the Lottery Corporation.

The PRESIDENT: There is no point of order.