Pokies: ‘Making money out of misery’

Critics of the State Government’s gambling reforms believe more could be done to address the problem.

OPPONENTS of the State Government’s gambling reforms say they still contain little to address the scourge of problem gambling.

The State Government on Tuesday announced the first round of public consultation on the future regulation of poker machines, casinos and Keno in Tasmania.

The consultation paper outlines plans for two “high-roller” casinos — one at Mona and the second in the North. It also caps poker machine numbers statewide at 2350, with caps of 30 for a hotel and 40 for a club staying in place.

Independent MLC for Nelson Meg Webb has been a long-time critic of the industry, and said there was no evidence the policies the Government was pursuing were in fact improvements.

“The real reform agenda here is one designed to sustain the mates rates and handshake agreements that have been in place for the last two decades,” Ms Webb said.

“The Government’s proposal puts political donors ahead of the wellbeing of Tasmanians, and ignores all the evidence on what actually works to minimise harm and addiction.

“The real question we need to ask is what level of poker machine addiction and harm is the Gutwein Government happy to accept?”

Independent MLC for Nelson Meg Webb in Kingston. Picture: RICHARD JUPE

She said she would pressure the Government to release any modelling it had done around the effect of the changes.

“What we are presented with is industry-written policy which the Tasmanian Liquor and Gaming Commission warned against in its own advice to Government,” she said.

“We have no evidence that this policy approach is in the best interests of our state.”

Greens spokeswoman Rosalie Woodruff described the consultation process as “a meaningless sham”.

“It’s offensive to all Tasmanians who are concerned about the harms of pokies,” she said.

Greens MP Rosalie Woodruff speaking about gambling reform at a media conference on Parliament Lawns in Hobart.

Ms Woodruff said there was no detail yet released on the taxation arrangements for Federal Group’s two current casinos under the future gambling arrangements.

“Why we don’t know should be obvious to Tasmanians, who watched how the election unfolded in 2018 … where the Liberals were bought by the gambling industry, and Federal and the other bodies are seeking to make money out of misery, and the Tasmanians will do everything they can to avoid having to pay taxes.”

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Pat Caplice from Rein in the Pokies said the community support levy would be increased under the proposed arrangements, but there wasn’t much else that would help to reduce the harm caused by gambling. “The only thing they’re doing is parking one more ambulance at the bottom of the pokies addiction cliff — but they’re certainly not building a fence around the top of the cliff.”

Labor MP Ella Haddad speaking about gambling reform at a media conference on Parliament Lawns in Hobart on Wednesday February 26, 2020.

Labor’s Ella Haddad said the Government should produce legislation for public scrutiny.

“We want a commitment from Peter Gutwein today that when he does release a Bill, he releases that with time for the community and for Labor to assess and to amend that Bill,” she said.

She said Labor would focus on ensuring adequate harm-minimisation measures were in place.

Finance Minister Michael Ferguson said Labor should tell the Tasmanian public what they stood for.

“The commitments of our policy have not changed since 2018 — we are now consulting on the detail of the regulatory model,” he said.

“Ours was a clear policy taken to the election, a policy that Tasmanians overwhelmingly endorsed. Tasmania’s harm-minimisation framework is already regarded as national best practice and that will not change.

“However, under this model, all venues will pay a Community Service Levy, effectively doubling the amount received to support community organisations and provide harm-minimisation services.”

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Federal Group spokesman Daniel Hanna welcomed the release of the paper.

“We will make a public submission by the March 18 deadline,” he said.

The Tasmanian Hospitality Association and Mona were contacted for comment.

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