Pubs have time to reinvent

POKER MACHINES

I WOULD like to commend Rebecca White for not being pushed on the Labor Party’s poker machine stance, ahead of the release of the Joint Select Committee Future Gaming Markets inquiry findings. It would seem only logical any party would not declare its stance before the inquiry findings are released. It is also only appropriate that, as part of considering options, compensation be contemplated if necessary. However, the poker machine licensing arrangement has always had an end date of 2022, so anyone investing in a pub knew their ability to run poker machines could expire in 2022.

This still gives pubs six years to re-invent their business model. Remember, we weren’t prepared to subsidise an unviable car industry, and that was being supported by taxpayers, and not society’s most disadvantaged. a renewal or extension offered, the building owner doesn’t have to pay compensation. In the past, the pokies deed has been negotiated behind closed doors, never near an election, and presented as a done deal. David Walsh’s 2015 exposure put paid to that. The lease is up and voters will be having a direct say in this process. Mr Old is right, a buyback of poker machines doesn’t make sense.

Just like smoking

NOW the THA is predicting the end of pub civilisation as we know it if gaming machines are removed. As a tobacco control researcher, I remember in the early 2000s the outrage of the tobacco industry and Australian Hotels Association (now the THA) when it was proposed to ban smoking in pubs. The tobacco industry threw buckets of money to oppose it.

The Parliament ignored these influences and no apocalypse occurred. The British Medical Journal, Tobacco Control in 2009 said, “The smoke-free policy protects hospitality workers and patrons from exposure to second-hand smoke and has had no adverse effect on sales turnover.” WA doesn’t have gaming machines in pubs and, on my travels to the Pilbara and beyond, there were plenty of people in the pubs.

Risky proposal

THE proposal by Federal Hotels and the Tasmanian Hospitality Association to allow pubs and clubs to own and operate A new way to have your say themercury.com.au readers have a new way to have their say. It’s free to use, just register and have your say. For more details and to register, visit the website. their poker machines from 2023 is dangerous and counter to what is wanted by about 80 per cent of Tasmanian people. If clubs and pubs are allowed to hold individual licences and thus make more money from poker machines, they will become addicted to this income. The State Government gains only a very small proportion of revenue from poker machine profits. Increased profits to clubs, pubs and government will entrench poker machines in Tasmanian life.

An estimate is that 15 per cent of regular pokie gamblers become addicted and another 15 per cent put at risk. This 30 per cent is responsible for 60 per cent of the money lost to poker machine gambling in Tasmania.

Early childhood brain development research indicates disadvantage and/or trauma is a risk factor for addictive behaviour and the life-long negative consequences.

Restrict machines

THE notion raised in State Parliament to possibly compensate pubs and clubs for any loss of poker machines from their venue is ludicrous. These venues have mostly expanded or upgraded their premises from revenue raised from the poker machine punter and have given zilch back to these punters. Poker machines should only be housed within casinos, not in the lower socio-economic areas.

People should decide the future of poker machines through State Parliament, not vested interest bodies.

Racing training needs

THE racing training centre at Brighton is also suffering from lack of attention. No swimming pool to exercise horses, no treadmill if the track is wet or closed, no rent relief. Come on Mr Bacon, ask some questions.

Underwater sadness

THANKS to Kathleen McLaren for her well-researched letter (Letters, September 14). Images of salmon frantically swimming in crowded pens and past reports of inadequate oxygen are deeply saddening to me. Yes, we are different but we share many needs and emotions. We need to ask ourselves how we would be if we had such a deprived life forced upon us, with no relief in sight? Are we seeing the new “battery hen”-like system for fish?

Accounting

BECAUSE banks are not held criminally responsible for laundering money, there must be a future for criminals who do the same. There may be a defence by criminals not to be held responsible in law for practices that are commonplace in the corporate environment. Bank executives are culpable for their actions. But who will hold those bank employees accountable for their unsavoury acts?

Speaking of which

THE marriage equality debate: some people talk about sex; others speak of love (“Barnett’s school claims in dispute”, Mercury, September 15).