More poker machines on the card for “golden mile”

TASMANIA’S Upper House members are being urged to reject a motion that would enable an additional 60 poker machines on the “Golden Mile” in Hobart’s northern suburbs.

Hobart’s Golden Mile could be set for an additional 60 gaming machines

TASMANIA’S Upper House members are being urged to reject a motion that would enable an additional 60 poker machines on the “Golden Mile” in Hobart’s northern suburbs.

A proposed amendment to new pokies laws will take away a “retrospectivity clause” for all new pokies licences.

The State Government had wanted the clause to apply from March 17, meaning all applications since that time would have to undergo a public interest test and, if they failed that, would have their licence to operate those machines revoked.

But the proposed motion, put forward by Murchison MLC Ruth Forrest to stop the new rules being applied retrospectively, would allow for an additional 60 gaming machines in Hobart’s northern suburbs.

The owner of the Paddy Wagon in Glenorchy and the Moonah Hotel, in Moonah, has made applications for 20 machines at each venues — but could operate up to 30 at each under existing rules.

Glenorchy Mayor Kristie Johnston said residents already concerned about the

prospect of more gaming machines on the strip known as “The Golden Mile” because of its high concentration of gaming machines.

“The reaction this morning on the streets is utter disbelief and grave concerns,” Ald. Johnston said.

“We are urging the Legislative Council to reject the amendment.

“This amendment allows a window of opportunity for an increase in 60 pokie machines in Glenorchy causing serious and long-term harm to our community.”

Treasurer Peter Gutwein said “the Government clearly said back in March that we don’t believe that there should be any new pokie venues in Tasmania until there is a community interest test in place”.

“The legislation to do that is now before Parliament,” Mr Gutwein said.

“It is not retrospective because it was clearly announced in my Ministerial Statement that the community interest test would apply immediately.

Ms Forrest said last night it “was never made clear” by the Government that there could be 60 new gaming machines in Glenorchy.

“It appears that the Government had not given us all the facts,” Ms Forrest said.

“I would prefer we had no pokies in Tasmania.”

Meg Webb, the spokeswoman for Community Voice on Pokies Reform — a coalition 42 councils, associations and community groups — said this highlighted the need for a pause on all new poker machine licences.

“New applications cause great divisiveness,” she said.

Originally published as More poker machines on the card for “golden mile”