Premier rolls dice on Liberals’ poker machine plans

TASMANIA will boast up to four casinos and poker machines would remain in pubs and clubs until 2043 under the Liberal Party’s gambling policy. WATCH THE PRESS CONFERENCE

Tasmanian Premier Will Hodgman. Picture : MATT THOMPSON

UPDATE: TASMANIA will boast up to four casinos and poker machines would remain in pubs and clubs until 2043 under the Liberal Party’s gambling policy announced yesterday.

Premier Will Hodgman and Treasurer Peter Gutwein went to the pokies heartland of Glenorchy to announce the policy, most of which had previously revealed.

They promised a 20-year extension to the current casino licences held by Federal Group — plus a licence for a MONA high-rollers casino and another similar casino available for an operator in the north of the state.

In contrast to the Labor policy of removing electronic gaming machines from pubs and clubs over the next five years, the Liberals would end Federal Group’s monopoly ownership and instead allow pubs and clubs to directly licence their own machines from the government, Mr Hodgman said.

The policy would see more revenue retained by venues, more tax paid to he government and doubles the amount of money directed into programs to help problem gamblers, Mr Hodgman said.

“We believe in a gaming industry that is well regulated and has the highest standards of probity, one that also provides protection for those who might be at risk of problem gambling, that’s able to provide better to support — an industry that is able to fairly distribute their returns to gaming activity to players, to industry, and to businesses and indeed to governments as well,” Mr Hodgman said.

Premier Will Hodgman, right, and Treasurer Peter Gutwein were backed by a hefty crowd while announcing the Liberals’ gaming policy at the Glenorchy RSL this afternoon. Picture: MATHEW FARRELL

Treasurer Peter Gutwein said that the Liberal policy was intended to protect jobs and the right of responsible gamblers to enjoy a flutter.

“I want to make the point that 99.5 per cent of Tasmanians are able to gamble responsibly and we believe as a party very strongly people should make up their own mind about whether or not they gamble and importantly where they gamble.”

Mr Gutwein said he met with Federal Hotels Group chief Greg Farrell on Monday to outline the Liberal policy — which includes a promise to renegotiate taxes and licence fees with the casino operator.

Federal Group spokesman Daniel Hanna said the company acknowledged it would take a hit to revenue.

“The company has some concerns that the policy will mean a further reduction in the share of gaming revenue received and does not provide the certainty or clarity beyond 2023 sought by the company,” he said.

MORE: ALP DENIES THOUSANDS OF POKIES JOBS ARE AT RISK

“However, we also acknowledge that the policy achieves a balance between freedom of choice, employment and economic activity, and harm minimisation.”

The Liberals has already announced a reduction of the cap of 3680 machines statewide by 150, with 1180 of these in the two current casinos.

Both Labor and Liberal now back the establishment of the MONA casino and another high-roller venue.

MONA owner and professional gambler David Walsh yesterday told ABC radio he held poker machines in contempt.

“It’s no secret that I think pokies are essentially grandma-raping machines that don’t service a need in the community and they’re a very inefficient way of raising revenue and they’re a very inefficient way of distributing revenue and creating jobs,” he said.

Recent studies suggest there are about 8000 Tasmanians are considered to be problem gamblers, with a social cost estimated at up to $184 million each year.

Labor leader Rebecca White said the Liberal policy was not in the community’s best interests.

“Today’s announcement entrenches poker machines and the misery that comes with them in our towns and suburbs for another 25 years,” she said.

“By extending the licence by 20 years, the Liberals are cementing the harm caused by pokies for another generation.

“The Premier has sold out and rolled over to the gambling lobby.”

Greens gambling spokeswoman Andrea Dawkins said the policy announcement was at odds with the recent gaming inquiry which recommended substantial cuts to poker machine numbers.

“The only way to truly mitigate the risk of pokies addiction is to remove poker machines from the community.

“The Liberals’ pokies policy will lock Tasmanians into 20 years of further suffering. It demonstrates their lack of social conscience or compassion, and clearly states who they really represent — big business and gambling barons, not people.

Independent Federal MP Andrew Wilkie also condemned the policy.

“It’s a fact that poker machines increase crime, domestic violence, suicide and childhood poverty.

“And it’s clearly also a fact that the Tasmanian Liberal Party is completely and utterly beholden to the vultures in the poker machine industry.”

EARLIER: THE right to operate pokies in pubs and clubs in Tasmania after 2023 will be licensed to individual venues with up to a 20-year term if the Liberal Government is re-elected.

Flanked by Treasurer Peter Gutwein, Premier Will Hodgman released his party’s poker machines policy in a press conference at the Glenorchy RSL this afternoon.

The Liberal Party had previously announced that the monopoly enjoyed by Federal Group would end in 2023 and pubs and clubs will be individually licensed to own and operate their own machines.

The Federal Group would retain its two casino licences, its Keno licence and an electronic gaming machines licence capped at 1180 machines.

Two “high roller, non-residential” casino licences would be made available that would not include pokies.

Under the Liberals proposal, as previously announced, one licence would be offered to MONA and the second to be offered in the north of the state, subject to the outcome of a cost-benefit analysis demonstrating that it was “in the state’s best interests”.

The party has also vowed to give pubs and clubs will a larger share and to take more of poker machine turnover in tax.

And it says amount available for harm minimisation and community projects will double.

Labor and the Greens have both announced plans to remove poker machines from pubs and clubs if they are elected to government at the upcoming state election.

EARLIER: PREMIER Will Hodgman is poised to release his party’s poker machines policy in a press conference at Glenorchy RSL.

The Liberal Party has previously announced that the monopoly enjoyed by Federal Group will end in 2023 and pubs and clubs will be individually licensed to own and operate their own machines.

The party has also vowed to give pubs and clubs will a larger share and to take more of poker machine turnover in tax.

And it says amount available for harm minimisation and community projects will double.

Labor and the Greens have both announced plans to remove poker machines from pubs and clubs if they are elected to government at the upcoming state election.