Media Release: Call for Labor to Come Clean over any Deals with Pokies Industry

Call for Labor to Come Clean over any Deals with Pokies Industry

13 February 2024

Independent for Nelson Meg Webb MLC has called on Labor and Liberal parties to immediately disclose whether any pre-election secret deals have been done with the poker machine industry and its supporters within the hospitality sector.

“With an early election in the wind it is imperative that Labor and Liberal guarantee their strong support for the new pokies pre-commitment card, and immediately disclose any deals done with the pro-pokies lobby,” Ms Webb said.

“Who could forget the undemocratic secret deals done by both parties ahead of the last state election?  Former Premier Gutwein struck a secret casino tax deal with Federal Group, while Labor had a secretly signed a MoU with the Tasmanian Hospitality Association providing an effective industry veto over that party’s harm minimisation policies.

“Since 2021 we’ve moved forward with a significant pokies breakthrough with the announcement of a nation-leading pokies pre-commitment card, however it is not expected to be in place until December this year.

“This positive potential game-changer in pokies harm reduction has been pursued diligently by Treasurer Michael Ferguson, however Labor have remained worryingly evasive about their support for this important initiative.

“Where is Labor on the pokies pre-commitment card? Has Labor done a deal with the pro-pokies lobby to kill the pokies card?

“Both parties must come clean now whether they have made any deals with industry stakeholders, and also provide an undertaking with the Tasmanian people that no secret deals will be made leading into or during the expected election campaign.

“Dirty deals were done during the 2021 election with devasting consequences for the community, and also for public trust. Tasmanians will not be fooled again,” Ms Webb said.