Tasmanian Legislative Council MLCs debate controversial gaming reforms

A bid to send controversial new Tasmanian gaming legislation to a parliamentary scrutiny for more scrutiny has been decided. LATEST >>

A PUSH to send controversial new Tasmanian gaming legislation to a parliamentary committee for further scrutiny has been lost.

In the Legislative Council, Mersey MLC Mike Gaffney moved a motion for aspects of the Bill to be sent to the Public Accounts Committee.

It was lost eight votes to six, and MLCs instead started the process of debating the individual clauses of the legislation, and amendments.

Independent MLC, Michael Gaffney. Picture: Zak Simmonds

The legislation, which seeks to end Federal Group’s monopoly over the state’s poker machines, passed the House of Assembly last month.

The Bill would allow pubs and clubs to own the machines, while also allowing for new casino licences to be issued.

The state government has warned that it wants the legislation dealt with this year.

Debate in the House of Assembly last month focused on concerns the Bill did not have adequate harm minimisation measures.

Debate in the Legislative Council was continuing on Tuesday night.

Push for pokies bill inquiry

The future of the government’s controversial poker machine reform will again be debated in the Legislative Council this week.

At least one member of the Upper House it set to move for the bill to be referred to a committee for an inquiry.

The government has warned that it wants the legislation which ends Federal monopoly on poker machines among its reforms dealt with this year.

MLC for Nelson Meg Webb, an anti-pokies campaigner, wants Labor members to support an inquiry.

“If members don’t believe this bill warrants the careful scrutiny of an inquiry, then no bill coming through our chamber ever will,” she said.

“Rarely would a bill come to parliament of such complexity and such consequence to our state, socially and financially.

Independent MLC for Nelson Meg Webb speaks to the media.

“You would think any opposition worth its salt would be spurred into action by a plan that gifts a quarter of billion dollars in tax concessions to one private business and risks higher levels of harm according to our independent Gaming Commission.

“Will Labor step up and put the best interests of the Tasmanian community first?”

Ms Webb did not confirm she had 47 pages of amendments to the bill but said she did have amendments covering harm minimisation and consumer protection measures, taxation rates, reviews of data collection and reporting and licence periods.

“Given its raft of shortcomings and flaws, it would be astonishing if this bill was passed by the upper house unamended,” she said.

“It would be a particular failure to see no further harm minimisation included, especially with options available that won’t disrupt the structural change and will have no negative affect on recreational use or jobs.”

Tim Jacobson, State Secretary Health and Community Services Union. Picture: RICHARD JUPE

Health and Community Services Union secretary Tim Jacobson said he had written to all Labor MLCs urging them to support an inquiry into the legislation.

“There is an opportunity to put this to an inquiry and to listen to the experts on this complex legislation,” he said.

“We need to hear from organisations such as Anglicare who have lobbied hard and know first -hand how people’s lives are ruined by these machines.

Debate adjourned over pokies bill

TASMANIA’S Legislative Council has adjourned debating on controversial gaming reforms on Wednesday night.

The legislation, which passed the House of Assembly last month, seeks to end Federal Group’s monopoly over the state’s poker machines and instead give licences to individual venues.

Mersey MLC Mike Gaffney said he supported an inquiry into added harm minimisation measures, while suggesting an 18-month transition period for the legislation was “a recipe for disaster” and not long enough.

Launceston MLC Rosemary Armitage said it was not Federal Group’s fault it had held a monopoly, saying it was the Tasmanian parliament that had initially granted.

Ms Armitage said Federal Group had been a good corporate citizen.

Rob Valentine, the MLC for Hobart, said a common theme he had heard from the community was the need for adequate harm minimisation measures for gamblers.

MLCs adjourned just before 10pm on Wednesday night.

EARLIER:

MEMBERS of parliament voting on the government’s controversial gaming reforms have been accused of legislating while under the influence.

Independent Member of the Legislative Council Ruth Forrest says she was concerned to hear reports that some MPs were affected by alcohol during late-night debate in the lower house.

“We all know decision-making is impaired when people are fatigued,” she said.

Independent MLC, Ruth Forrest. Picture: Zak Simmonds

“While this may be deemed reasonable in the other place to work late into the night where party members can take many breaks, spend their time relaxing in their offices or socialising with many only needing to turn up to vote, this is not the case for me or most of the members here.

“I also was deeply disturbed to hear from those observing the debate it appeared that some members who were generally only returning to the Chamber late at night to vote were clearly under the influence of alcohol and could be heard saying as much.”

Independent MLC Ruth Forrest has told the Legislative Council it appeared some MPs in the Lower House voted on the gaming reforms legislation "clearly under the influence of alcohol, and could be heard saying as much" #politas

— Emily Baker (@emlybkr) November 9, 2021

Ms Forrest said she was concerned that such important legislation was being debated and voted on by members if they had been drinking.

“Those members can speak for themselves around the voracity of this but I find it abhorrent and deeply concerning that such important deliberative work being undertaken by members of parliament, including considering and voting on matters that will have an impact on all Tasmanians one way or another, are not fully alert, sober and engaged.”

“I will not work in this place under the influence of alcohol and neither should anybody else. The effect is the same with fatigue.”

Speaker of the House of Assembly Mark Shelton said he was unaware of any members being drunk on the floor of the House of Assembly.

“Any such behaviour is not accepted practice in the House,” he said.

“As Speaker of the House, I am not aware of any basis whatsoever for these disappointing assertions and I have not received any formal or informal complaint.”

Debate on the legislation will continue in the Legislative Council today.

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