A bill establishing the procedures to be followed to hold a referendum was tabled in the House of Assembly yesterday.The Referendum Act 2012 sets the stage for a referendum on gaming which was mentioned in last year’s Throne Speech as something the Government would consider.“As an integral part of the impending launch of the new tourism plan, today I have tabled in the House of Assembly a Bill entitled the Referendum Act 2012,” said Premier Paula Cox as she explained the new measures.She confirmed that a referendum on gaming in Bermuda will take place “in due course”.The new law would also mean that legislators will no longer have to pass a separate law each time a referendum is decided upon.“One might easily describe it as an umbrella Act which sets out operational processes to be followed whenever a referendum on any topic is to be held,” said Ms Cox.“It identifies who is able to vote in a referendum, the timelines which must be adhered to in the event a referendum is held, and identifies in clear detail the processes which must be followed before, during and after a referendum is held.”She said it is similar to the Parliamentary Elections Act which defines the framework under which elections to parliament are conducted.But a significant difference is that it provides for the use of an ad hoc committee to advise the Premier on “any matter relating to the referendum, establish best operational practice for the holding of the referendum and perhaps most importantly, will assist in making the public aware of the question or questions for consideration at the referendum.”The bill “builds another element of democracy into Bermuda’s legal structure and no doubt will prove very helpful in the determination of complex policy issues that require a clear steer from the will of the people,” the Premier said.Ms Cox added: “Decisions are being made every day, but they are not being made in isolation. Involving you in the decisions of our country is an essential part of our democracy.“The crux of Constitutional Democracy in our view means that people must have the freedom and flexibility to choose.“They must have the freedom to share in common experiences, and to freely debate and discuss the issues that concern them.“In essence, they must have the feeling that they have the right to ask questions and be consulted on Government decisions that affect them.“That is the spirit of democracy that we advocate and this is the kind of openness that we seek to engage with this Bill.”