Pressure right on pokies

Greens, Libs want to know ALP’s position on gaming

LABOR is expected to come under pressure from the left and the right in State Parliament this week over pokermachine reforms and mandatory sentencing.

The Greens have foreshadowed a motion against pokies, while the Government is expected to renew its push for legislation for mandatory sentences for assaults on offduty police.

Labor is planning to target what it describes as government inaction on a code of conduct for MPs.

Greens gaming spokeswoman Andrea Dawkins said her party would move a motion to cut pokies from pubs and clubs after the report of the Future Gaming Markets injury was tabled.

“Labor hasn’t nominated their position yet, so we’re going to allow them the space to be decisive and lead for their community,” she said.

“We’re listening to the community and I think it’s up to Labor to listen to the community as well.

“I mean what kind of consultation could they possibly be leading that all of the evidence to the Future Gaming Markets inquiry didn’t already elaborate.”

Labor has said it would consult the community before deciding its position on gaming.

Meanwhile, Hobart Lord Mayor Sue Hickey yesterday vigorously backed the Liberal policy on gambling.

Ald Hickey, if preselected, will be a high-profile candidate for the Liberal Party in Denison, where poker machines are expected to be a pivotal election issue.

“This will come as no surprise ... my view is that gambling is a choice,” she told ABC radio.

“When you look at the statistics, of the people who gamble ... it’s about 2 per cent who are chronic gamblers.

“What I say is that, if we are going to shut down gambling, why don’t we shut down bottle shops because alcohol is a major cause of chronic distress throughout the community and leads to things like gambling and loss of control.”

Meanwhile, Labor spokeswoman Lara Giddings said the party was seeking an explanation from the Government as to why it was being so slow to enact a code of conduct, particularly in the wake of the Adam Brooks email affair.

“The Labor Party is going to move a motion to force the Government to tell Tasmanians why they’ve been dragging their feet on introducing a code of conduct for members of Parliament,” she said.

“We’ve got nine more sitting days before the likely end of this Parliament.

“We would like to see code of conduct introduced, so that it’s ready in time for the new Parliament that’s established following the election.”