Labor’s secret deal with pokies barons exposed
Tasmanian Labor leader Rebecca White claims a deal struck with body representing pubs and clubs was neither secret nor public, but critics say her party has sold out to the pokies lobby.
Tasmania
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LABOR signed a secret deal with the Tasmanian Hospitality Association in February pledging its support for poker machines, Keno and other forms of gambling to continue in pubs and clubs.
Opponents accused the party of having sold out to the pokies lobby.
Labor was savaged by the big-spending industry in the lead-up to the 2018 election because of its policy of removing poker machines from non-casino venues. The policy was dumped after Labor’s loss.
Opposition leader Rebecca White said “it’s not a secret deal”, initially refused to detail to contents of the document, then said “it’s not a public document” — before relenting.
The agreement backs the government’s proposed gambling arrangements and promises a regimen of education — rather than enforcement — for employers who don’t abide by award conditions for their workers.
It also promises a portfolio for hospitality under a Labor government, ongoing meetings and an “election package” for the industry.
“We’ve actually struck a number of agreements with industries and other stakeholders over the course of the last few years,” Ms White said.
“And I’m proud of that it actually demonstrates our commitment to listen to consult, and to work on a range of issues.”
She said she did not know if the THA had made donations to her party.
Independent candidate Kristie Johnstone labelled the MOU a “dog of a deal”.
“If the community deserves to know which deals parties have done with businesses and industry,” she said.
“It’s particularly important considering what donations are made to parties around election time.”
Independent MLC Meg Webb has been a long-time anti-pokies campaigner.
“This is an incredible betrayal of the Tasmanian people by the Labor Party,” she said.
“Labor has joined the Liberal party in prioritising the interest of the pokies industry and their own electoral self-interest while putting the best interests of the Tasmanian community a distant last.’
And Greens leader Cassy O’Connor said described it as a “staggering and shameful capitulation” and Ms White should be ashamed of herself.
“It tells us that the Tasmanian Hospitality Association – the gambling industry in Tasmania – controls both the Liberal Party and the Labor Party now, Labor has absolutely caved in,” she said.
“They would have gone all the way to Election Day, without telling Tasmanian voters that they’ve absolutely caved in to the pokies lobby.
“And it just goes to show the corrosive influence of the gambling industry on both the liberal and Labor Party’s in Tasmania and our democracy.”
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