Gambling laws that ends pokies monopoly passes Tasmanian parliament

After years of community discussion, reforms to Tasmania’s gambling industry are set to become law with some MPs condemning the decision. LATEST >>

REFORMS to the state’s gambling industry will become law after passing a final vote in the House of Assembly this afternoon.

A key issue in the 2018 state election, the Liberal government's legislation ends Federal Group’s monopoly over poker machines in Tasmania and set up the rules for the industry for the next 20 years.

Pubs and clubs will be allowed to own and operate electronic gaming machines and new tax rates and an enhanced community service levy will apply.

Up to two new casinos will be allowed in the state and new harm minimisation measures will be introduced.

Pokies. Photo: Max Fleet / NewsMail

The Gaming Control Amendment (Future Gaming Market) Bill has been stridently opposed by the Green and independent members of the House of Assembly and by a bloc of four independents and outgoing Labor member Bastian Seidel in the Legislative Council.

After abandoning its opposition to poker machines in the wake of it’s 2018 election loss, Labor has voted in favour of the passage of the bill in both houses. It passed after almost 70 hours of debate.

Leader of Government Business Ferguson says the legislation was an important reform.

“The Future Gaming Market policy ends the Federal Group monopoly and means we have more money for essential services such as health and education, certainty and security for jobs in pubs and clubs, more support for problem gamblers and less for the Federal Group.

“Once again, our State is nation-leading in the area of gambling harm minimisation with strengthened measures to further reduce problem gambling.”

Greens leader Cassy O’Connor condemned Labor for supporting Liberal policy.

“This has been a tawdry episode in Tasmanian politics,” she said. “It’s certainly the nastiest piece of legislation I’ve ever been part of debating in my 13 years.”

Independent Kristie Johnston was even more blunt.

Polies

“My kids would say you can sprinkle glitter on a turd, but it still makes it a turd and that’s exactly what we have before us here,’ she said

Those opposed to the bill have claimed the unexplained difference between the tax rates levvies on various forms of gambling in pubs, clubs and casinos would benefit Federal Group by nearly $250m over the next 20 years

Premier Peter Gutwein has insisted that Federal Group would end up worse off under the changes.

Tasmanians lose around $200m to poker machines each year.

Controversial pokies laws pass Upper House

THE government’s controversial gambling reforms have passed the Upper House.

After days of debate, the legislation passed by a vote of 8-5 shortly after noon on Wednesday.

Independents Meg Webb, Ruth Forrest, Mike Gaffney and Rob Valentine and outgoing Labor MLC Bastian Seidel were the members in opposition.

The bill will go to the House of Assembly on Thursday, which will consider amendments made by the Legislative Council, ahead of a final vote expected later in the day.

Central to the legislation is an end to the Federal Group’s longstanding monopoly on poker machines in Tasmania.

Shortly before the decisive vote, Ms Forrest said she could not support a flawed bill.

“Sadly, this bill in its current form fails, it fails to deliver effective harm minimisation measures and a fair distribution,” she said.

“It’s also heartbreaking and this is the one opportunity we had to address these matters and put in place a fairer and a safer option.”

Independent MLC, Ruth Forrest talks during the Voluntary Assisted Dying Bill debate in the Legislative Council. Picture: Zak Simmonds

Member for Hobart Rob Valentine said the legislation did not deliver effective harm minimisation measures or a decent return to the community.

“This bill is not in a fit state and is not what I believe the majority of the people of Tasmania want,” he said.

And Member for Nelson Meg Webb said she had not been convinced by the long debate.

“We’ve got a lot of doubt as to the ultimate impact of this bill still remaining for us.

“I don’t believe that we are in a position to say that this bill is robust and credible to the extent that we would need it to be to pass this place.”

Earlier in the House of Assembly, Premier Peter Gutwein said the legislation had been thoroughly scrutinised by voters and been throughly scrutinised by both houses of parliament.

“My conscience is clear. We took a policy to the last election, in fact to the 2018 election. This has been around a while,” he said.

Premier Peter Gutwein addresses the Tasmanian House of Assembly.

“The policy has been out since 2018, it has been in effect to through two election periods. “What it will do as you know full well, the state will get more money from it and we will invest more in the harm minimisation and other matters. We will invest more money because we’re getting more money as a result of the deal.”

But Greens leader Cassy O’Connor said the bill was a manifestation of the influence of big party donors on democracy in Tasmania.

“The debate on your Future Gaming Markets Bill has demonstrated to Tasmanians the toxic corrosive influence of corporate donations on both the Liberal and Labor parties who allowed their conscience and votes to be bought against the public interest,” she said.

Member for Clark Kristie Johnston described the outcome as “heartbreaking”.

And federal member for Clark Andrew Wilkie said the opportunity for real reform had been missed for another generation.

“The Upper House MPs who unconscionably waved through these so-called reforms should hang their heads in shame.

Follow @DavidJKillick