MEDIA
Tasmanians lose $2.6 million on Pokies in 5 days
Reopened poker machines post-COVID-19 closures cost Tasmanians $2.6m in just 5 days. Meg Webb MLC talks with Aaron Stevens, Tasmania Talks.
Secrecy surrounds report into submissions on donations
In a bid to make electoral donations more transparent, the government commissioned a report – which it is keeping secret. Public submissions on ways the government could reduce the secrecy surrounding electoral donations have been kept secret for the past 12...
Tasmanian punters blow $2.6 million in post-COVID pokies gambling binge
Poker machines were idle for months in Tasmania due to COVID-19 restrictions. But their reopening was accompanied by a five-day binge in which punters blew millions of dollars. THE reopening of the state’s poker machines was accompanied by a five-day binge in which...
Tasmanian Treasury data reveals poker machine expenditure following lockdown
Tasmanians lost $2.6 million through electronic gaming machines over five days last month after their use was permitted again. Gaming venues were required to close on March 23 due to coronavirus public health restrictions.Gaming activities were allowed to start again...
Tasmanians lose $525k a day
ABC Radio LauncestonTasmanians lost $525k in just 5 days. Meg Webb speaks with Piia Wirsu ABC Radio Launceston about the impact of re-opening poker machines following COVID19 lockdowns.
Media Release – Poker Machine Losses Jump
Independent Member for Nelson Meg Webb said Department of Treasury and Finance figures show Tasmanian poker machines losses of $2.6 million, or $525,000 per day, in the five days venues were open in June. “With even with fewer machines operating due to social...
$2.6 million blown on Tasmanian pokies in less than a week
7AD Devonport Meg Webb speaks with Martin Agatyn about the huge pokies losses in Tasmania following the reopening of poker machines on 26 June 2020.
Media Release – Government transparency needed on promised electoral reforms
Government transparency needed on promised electoral reforms10 July 2020The Gutwein government must urgently provide Tasmanians an update on the stalled promised election transparency reforms, according to Independent Member for Nelson, Meg Webb MLC.“The March 2018...
COVID-19 Parliamentary Scrutiny Committee Call
ABC Drive with Lucy BreadanTasmania misses out on the opportunity for greater scrutiny of the Government's COVID-19 pandemic response and recovery. Meg Webb's call for a joint Parliamentary Select Committee passes the Upper House but lost in the Lower House using the...
Details sought on pokies modelling ahead of venues reopening
THE State Government is being urged to release social and economic impact modelling of the proposed new poker machine licensing arrangements.The Legislative Council yesterday endorsed a motion by independent MLC Meg Webb for the public release of any modelling...
Pokies Social and Economic Impact Modelling Motion Endorsed
Meg Webb MLC speaks with Leon Crompton ABC Breakfast about her Motion calling on the Tasmanian Govt to release economic and social impact modelling for the proposed poker machine licencing plan.
Media Release – Call for Government to Release Impact Modelling of New Pokies Licensing Plan
The Legislative Council today endorsed a call for the Tasmanian government to release social and economic impact modelling of the proposed new poker machine licensing arrangements.Independent Member for Nelson Meg Webb - who moved the motion calling for the public...
Call to study impact of government’s new poker machine legislation supported by upper house
A motion calling on the government to release modelling on the social and economic impact of its proposed new poker machine licensing legislation has been supported by the upper house.The motion, introduced by Nelson independent MLC Meg Webb, also acknowledged...
Call to delay pokies shot down
A call to delay the reopening of poker machines in Tasmania until the impact of their closure during COVID-19 has been evaluated has been firmly shot down by the Premier.Nelson independent MLC Meg Webb said it would be irresponsible to reopen the gaming rooms as...
Opinion – Opportunity to reset approach to pokies
The COVID-19 crisis has reconfirmed some fundamental truths.Health and wellbeing take precedence over literally everything. All other policy areas, including the economy, can be bent in service of health.Leaving anyone behind hurts us all. The more we support those...
Media Release – Delay Switching on Poker Machines
Member for Nelson Meg Webb today called on the Gutwein Government to delay the switching on of poker machines on Friday. “It would be irresponsible to proceed with the proposed reopening of the State’s poker machine rooms, in light of recent interstate experiences...
Call to delay switching pokies back on following three-month shutdown
POKER machines, due to be switched back on this Friday, should be left off, according to independent MLC Meg Webb.But Premier Peter Gutwein firmly rejected the idea, accusing Ms Webb of wanting a nanny state.Ms Webb said Tasmanians had saved more than $42 million in...
Switching poker machines back on will be worse-case scenario
Seven News Tasmania "Switching poker machines back on at this time will be absolutely the worse-case scenario for our State" It will be putting our community at higher risk of pokies harm and it will be a real detriment to our economic recovery." Hon Meg Webb...
Pokies closures a welcome break for at-risk gamblers
WIN NEWS Welfare groups back Meg Webb's call to leave poker machines turned off.
Opinion – Elder Abuse Awareness
COVID-19 has put a spotlight on older people in our Tasmanian community. They have been more susceptible to the worst effects of the virus, and the enforced restrictions have also created a higher risk of elder abuse and neglect.Elder abuse in our community is a...
Why poker machines should remain turned off
Meg Webb MLC talks about why poker machines should stay switched off during COVID-19 with Lucy Breaden.
Tasmania’s House of Assembly ignores upper house push for a new coronavirus inquiry
The government has ignored a message from the Legislative Council to appoint a joint select parliamentary committee to inquire into the state's immediate and ongoing response to coronavirus.The upper house on Wednesday night supported Nelson independent Meg Webb's...
Impact of COVID-19 on online gambling not yet known: Tasmanian government
The state government has brought forward a planned online gambling campaign but says there is not yet any evidence online betting has increased during COVID-19. Responding to questions from Nelson independent MLC Meg Webb in the Legislative Council on Thursday, Leader...
Upper House vote for parliamentary oversight thrown out
A BID to hold a wide-ranging parliamentary inquiry into the Government’s coronavirus response has failed after Speaker Sue Hickey used her casting vote to block it.Independent MLC Meg Webb’s motion in favour of the parliamentary Joint House Select Committee inquiry...
Missed Opportunity for Leadership on COVID-19 Oversight
Tasmania is set to remain the only Australian jurisdiction with restricted COVID-19 parliamentary oversight and community input opportunities, after moves to establish a Joint House inquiry was blocked by the State government today.“Sadly, the leadership demonstrated...
LegCo in support of more state scrutiny
A MOTION for the creation of a multi-party committee to scrutinise the State Government’s responses to coronavirus has been accepted by the Legislative Council.Last night, Nelson MLC Meg Webb said the state was lagging behind the rest of the country on parliamentary...
Upper house supports motion calling for further parliamentary scrutiny of Tasmania’s COVID-19 response
A motion calling for the establishment of a joint select committee to inquire into and report upon the state's immediate and ongoing COVID-19 response has been supported by the upper house.The motion, introduced by Nelson independent MLC Meg Webb, narrowly passed the...
Opinion – Virus response must build on trust
Comprehensive COVID-19 Response and Recovery Inquiry Invests in Trust Like many, I’ve watched with horror the recent distressing events across the United States.There are many complex factors underlying this situation, but the civic disturbances are occurring in the...
Nelson MLC Meg Webb says Tasmania is lagging behind rest of country on scrutiny of coronavirus response
Premier Peter Gutwein has flat out rejected further calls for a “disingenuous” committee to scrutinise the State Government’s handling of the coronavirus pandemic in Tasmania, saying it is not necessary. A LEGISLATIVE Council member has made a renewed plea for...
Tasmanian Government resists calls for new parliamentary committee to analyse coronavirus actions
Calls are growing louder for a joint parliamentary committee to be formed to inquire into the state's response to and recovery from the coronavirus outbreak. Nelson independent MLC Meg Webb on Wednesday said she had written to state party leaders and independent...
