Libs hit the jackpot on pokies; Rivals slam new gambling laws

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.” Mr Valentine, the Member for Hobart, 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 Ms Webb, the Member for Nelson, 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,” she said.

“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,” he said.

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