Media Release – Parliamentary debate on gaming bill shows disdain for community wishes

Media Release | 26 October 2021  

Independent Member for Nelson Meg Webb today called out both major parties for their contempt of the Tasmanian community on the issue of gaming reform.

“The Parliamentary debate on the Gutwein Liberal Government’s industry-written gaming bill is a blueprint for political self-interest and failure to represent the community,” Ms Webb said.

“Polling in August showed that four in five Liberal voters and four in five Labor voters think casino poker machines should be taxed at the same rate as hotel poker machines.

“Crucially, 71% of Liberal voters and 71% of Labor voters support lowering maximum bets on poker machines from $5 to $1.

“Eight in 10 Liberal voters and nine in 10 Labor voters think this legislation should include consumer protection and harm minimisation.”

Ms Webb said the Gutwein Liberal Government and White Labor Opposition have betrayed the Tasmanian people’s views on every one of these important aspects of the reform.

“The stance taken so far on this bill by every member of both major parties is clearly at odds with the views of those they were elected to represent.  

“Not only have Liberal and Labor members broken faith with the Tasmanian people, they have wilfully ignored the expert advice and independent modelling that demonstrates this bill fails to deliver the best option for our state financially or socially.

“We know that both Liberal Government and Labor Opposition made secret deals with the poker machine industry.

“We know both major parties are indebted to the pokies industry for political support and are terrified of its wrath if they don’t toe the line and deliver.

“The Liberal and Labor members in the lower house are showing themselves to be a lost cause when it comes to integrity and accountability to their constituents – all that remains is to see whether any upper house party-aligned members have the guts to be true to the values and wishes of their community.”

EMRS POLLING QUESTIONS

Question: Do you think that poker machines in casinos and in hotels should be taxed at the same rate?

Yes = 81%  No = 7%

 NB: those who answered ‘No’ or ‘Unsure’ to Q above were then asked “Would you support or oppose poker machines in casinos being taxed at a lower rate than poker machines in hotels?” TOTAL OPPOSE = 54% ; total support = 17% 

In total, 91% of Tasmanians do not think casino pokies should be taxed lower than hotel pokies

Question: Do you think the licensing changes to poker machines in Tasmania should include consumer protection and harm minimisation in the legislation?

YES = 85%  No = 6%

Question: Poker machines currently have a maximum bet limit of $5 per bet. Would you support or oppose lowering the limit from $5 to a maximum of $1?

TOTAL SUPPORT = 73%  Total oppose = 17%

For more detail on the EMRS polling from August 2021: https://megwebb.com.au/pokies/what-tasmanians-think-of-the-governments-pokies-reform/

See more of Meg’s recent media.

See more on Pokies Reform