Pokies only likely to fall slightly

Response to gaming inquiry’s final report divided

A LONG-RUNNING inquiry into the future of gaming has produced three competing reports, anger from community groups and a likelihood that the number of poker machines will fall only slightly.

Two years after being established by Parliament — and after considering 148 submissions — the Joint Select Committee on Future Gaming Markets handed down its final report in Parliament yesterday.

It recommended a “significant reduction” in the number of poker machines in the state, but did not recommend their complete removal from pubs and clubs because the six committee members had been unable to agree.

Liberal committee member Sarah Courtney and Greens member Andrea Dawkins produced dissenting reports, mirroring their own parties’ policies on poker machines.

John Stubley, spokesman for the Community Voice coalition of community organisations, said the fight to reduce pokie numbers was not over.

“Evidence presented to the committee in submissions and in person during hearings was overwhelmingly in favour of removing pokies from Tasmania’s pubs and clubs,” Mr Stubley said.

“This is just one step in the long process of realising Tasmanians’ vision of a return to pokie-free communities,” he said. “Tasmanians are ready and asking for change.”

Independent federal MP Andrew Wilkie was gobsmacked by the report.

“I think it is completely and utterly bizarre,” he said.

“It’s unbelievable that the committee has ignored the overwhelming weight of public opinion; has ignored all of the evidence; and has failed to give a clear recommendation to get the poker machines out of pubs and clubs.

“And it also failed to read the evidence; to listen to the community; and make the recommendation that any remaining poker machines have effective harm-minimisation measures fitted.”

Federal Group executive general manager corporate affairs Daniel Hanna said many of those who made submissions to the inquiry had overstated the impact of poker machines.

“Throughout this process, it has been disappointing to see a range of groups misrepresent the facts of Tasmania’s gaming industry and seek to undermine the work of thousands of Tasmanians directly and indirectly employed in the sector,” he said.

“The facts are that Tasmania has the most strictly regulated gaming industry in Australia and consequently has the lowest rates of problem gambling.”

Treasurer Peter Gutwein said the committee’s findings were not current government policy.

“We do not believe that we should be spending taxpayers money to buy out jobs and potentially close down pubs and clubs, as the committee, and Labor, are proposing,” Mr Gutwein said.

“Having said that, the Government will consider the report and the remainder of its recommendations and respond in due course.

Labor leader Rebecca White said her party had not yet settled on the policy it was taking to the election, despite Scott Bacon having signed off on the majority report.

“It’s a report that’s over 200 pages long, with a number of findings and recommendations,” she said.

“We’ll take the opportunity now to use that report to consult with all stakeholders to engage with them constructively to understand what their considerations might be with respect to all of those recommendations.”

Committee chairman Mike Gaffney said the committee had not had enough time to properly assess a joint proposal from Federal Group and the Tasmanian Hospitality Association to loosen the company’s monopoly on poker machines in exchange for changes to the tax regimen.

“It was too short of time for us to actually have a real assessment. We did a preliminary assessment ... we’re saying this piece of work needs further time,” he said.

The committee also recommended Federal Group retain its two current casino licences and that, if any further licences were issued, that they be issued through a “market-based process”.

Greens gambling spokeswoman Andrea Dawkins said the majority report had soundly backed the status quo.

“The ... report tabled today has failed Tasmanians by backing in the status quo and the continued harm caused by poker machines in disadvantaged communities across the state.

“While the vast majority of submissions called for the removal of pokies from pubs and clubs, this is not reflected in the report.”

It’s unbelievable the committee has ignored the overwhelming weight of public opinion ... to get the pubs get the poker machine out of the pubs and clubs

— ANDREW WILKIE We do not believe we should be spending money to buy out jobs

— PETER GUTWEIN It has been disappointing to see ... groups misrepresent the facts of Tasmania’s gaming industry and undermine ... thousands of Tasmanians

— DANIEL HANNA