Hickey ‘fine’ with act’s anti-pokies tune

HOBART Lord Mayor and Denison Liberal candidate Sue Hickey has played down headline Taste of Tasmania New Year’s Eve act the Whitlams playing an anti-pokies song as the issue ramps up in Tasmania.

During its set on the Hobart waterfront on Sunday night — the Whitlams played its Blow Up the Pokies song, written by lead singer Tim Freedman as a statement on the impact of poker machines on the life of the band’s original bassist Andy Lewis.

Featuring lyrics such as “cause they’re taking the food off your table” the song has be- come an anthem for anti-pokies campaigners.

As Labor continues to push its policy of pulling poker machines out of pubs and clubs, party leader Rebecca White posted a photo with Freedman before the performance urging people to listen to the song.

Ald Hickey said she expected the performance of the show — saying it did not politicise it in any way.

“I think everyone has their own opinion and obviously it was to be expected, so it’s fine,” she said.

“No, I don’t have any control over the environment of the entertainment and nor should I.”

Ald Hickey said she expect- ed pokies to be a huge election issue leading into March, but said she believed there were bigger issues that needed to be addressed.

“I think it will be [a big election issue],” she said.

“And I’m really hoping that common sense prevails and both sides get an even debate on this because it’s a really im- portant issue economically for the area.

“But I personally believe that the real issue is mental health, not just pokies. I believe that mental health is the greater and more complex situation and that’s where we need to put the money.” simeon.thomas-wilson

@news.com.au