Media Release – Future Gaming Markets

Media Release |  24 November 2021  

Independent Member for Nelson Meg Webb said today that while the passage of the industry-written, Future Gaming Markets Bill was disappointing, some amendments had been secured.

“I want to pay tribute to the diligent work of some of my Upper House colleagues – together we were successful in securing some amendments,” Ms Webb said.

“Debate in the Council was notable not only for the hard work of some, but the disappointing and concerning vacation of the space by others, particularly the Labor Party members other than the Member for Huon, Bastian Seidel.

“Our democratic system is predicated on all elected representatives, whether in government or not, to be accountable to the electorate.

“A key mechanism to do so is to have the guts to put on the public record why you are voting a particular way.

“It was truly shocking to see vote after vote on amendments seeking real harm prevention mechanisms be defeated purely by Labor voting to protect the government and the industry.

“At no stage did those Labor members have the guts or courtesy to state why they were voting down those consumer protection measures.”

Ms Webb said Labor’s excuse that the Gutwein Government has the numbers – and therefore there is no point in trying to block this destructive Bill or send it to a Parliamentary Inquiry – has been exposed as a sham.

“We did succeed in securing 8 amendments in the Upper House.

“Just imagine what a difference Labor could have made, if they had put Tasmanians first and voted for amendments – when instead they protected the Government and the industry.

“The Gutwein Government has also been exposed in its failure to deliver the best financial deal for our State.

“The Government has given away a quarter of a billion dollars to Federal Group in tax concessions, while our hospitals and schools are in urgent need of that funding.

“The Government has doubly failed by throwing away the opportunity to make poker machines safer for all Tasmanians to use – which all experts advised could be achieved most effectively through bet limits and spin speeds.”

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