Cheap pokies deal won’t cut the mustard

Pat Caplice says the Tasmanian public will have the final say at the ballot box

“I FIND poker machines antisocial, unsightly, and insidious. But, unfortunately, they are now a significant source of revenue to the government and our legislators are, therefore, conflicted,” wrote David Walsh on his blog, First Stone, on September 14, 2015.

“That means it’s up to those of us who think pokies are a problem (apparently 80 per cent of us) to give a clear indication of the direction we want. Since I’m the idiot that inadvertently started this process, I should lead it now, even if I’m the loss leader.”

The transparency and honesty of David’s leadership inspires the community, and should be a beacon for our politicians and business sectors.

David’s open and transparent process in developing his hotel and casino plans means the 80 per cent of Tasmanians who think pokies are a problem can now “clearly indicate” electorally the direction we want.

The Deed, Federal Hotels’ monopoly licence for the pokies, expires in 2018. New legislation must pass parliament in 2019 to set the future after 2023. It is 2023 rather than on expiry in 2018 because of the Deed’s unusual five-year rollover clause.

David’s 2015 exposure doomed Federal Hotels’ attempt to extend the Deed beyond its 2018/2023 expiry. He doomed the usual practice of quiet deals behind closed doors, with no public input.

Instead a Parliamentary Select Committee public inquiry has heard evidence of the widespread public harm from The Community Voice for Pokies Reform.

The community was well represented by TasCOSS, Anglicare Tasmania, CatholicCare, Colony 47, Community Legal Centres Tasmania, Hobart City Mission, Holyoake, Launceston Benevolent Society, Launceston City Mission, Mental Health Council, Mission Australia, National Council of Women, Neighbourhood Houses, Relationships Australia, St Vincent de Paul Society, SU Tasmania, Tasmanian Baptist Churches, The Salvation Army, UnitingCare, Uniting Church, Hobart City Council, Brighton Council, Glenorchy City Council, Kingborough Council, Meander Valley Council, and Southern Midlands Council.

These groups grabbed the chance to talk of the harm because they see the damage poker machines cause, they pick up the broken people and the broken families.

David also contributed to the Rein in the Pokies submission.

Treasurer Peter Gutwein has set in the committee’s terms of reference that, “a wide range of gaming products should be available that are fair, and provide an acceptable average return to players” as a first guiding principle.

The Rein in The Pokies submission included evidence from Dr Charles Livingstone, not refuted by industry, that poker machine design includes elements that “addict” 15 per cent of regular players and put a further 15 per cent “at risk”.

This 30 per cent coterie provide 60 per cent of money lost. The nexus of poor odds and addictive elements places poker machines outside the committee’s first guiding principle. They are not fair and do not provide an acceptable average return to players.

Should the monopoly continue? What level should taxation be? Should more go to the Pokies pub barons and less to Federal?

Treasurer Gutwein’s Liberal plan to break Federal’s monopoly, allowing them to retain casino licences and pokies, but to auction the machines in pubs and to increase the tax, would mean Federal would take a haircut, the seven owners who operate two thirds of pub pokies would get more, and the state would take a larger rake. The player would receive only Bandaid help in the form of ineffective harm reduction.

Labor has a close relationship with Federal Hotels that is detailed in the James Boyce book Losing Streak. Former Labor premier Paul Lennon is Federal’s paid lobbyist. Unsurprisingly, Labor has been stoic in making no comment on the issue.

Poker machines deserve no place in modern Tasmania. The community has had input in the political process.

Our politicians will have to stand in front of their electors and tell us their plans for pokies — before the election and in front of the usually closed doors of vested interests.

Pat Caplice is convener of the Anti Pokies Facebook group Rein in The Pokies.