CARDS ON THE TABLE

FINALLY ... voters have a clear choice on policy

TASMANIAN voters will have a clear choice at the ballot box on gambling policy, with the Liberals confirming they would keep poker machines in pubs and clubs until at least 2043.

Following Labor’s shock pre-Christmas promise to confine pokies to the state’s two casinos, Premier Will Hodgman yesterday said he would instead allow pubs and clubs to directly licence their own machines.

That would mean ending the Federal Group’s monopoly — meaning more of the revenue would be retained by the venues, Mr Hodgman said.

He also confirmed plans to offer to licence two new highroller casinos — one in the North, and one at Mona.

TASMANIA will boast up to four casinos and poker machines will remain in pubs and clubs until 2043 under the Liberal Party’s gambling policy.

Premier Will Hodgman and Treasurer Peter Gutwein went to the pokies heartland of Glenorchy yesterday to announce the policy, most of which has previously been revealed.

They promised a 20-year extension to the current casino licences held by Federal Group — plus a licence for a Mona high-rollers’ casino and another similar casino available for an operator in the North.

In contrast to the Labor policy of removing electronic gaming machines from pubs and clubs over the next five years, the Liberals would end Federal Group’s monopoly ownership and instead allow pubs and clubs to directly license their own machines from the Government, Mr Hodgman said.

The policy would see more revenue retained by venues, more tax paid to the Government and it doubled the amount of money directed into programs to help problem gamblers, he said.

“We believe in a gaming industry that is well regulated and has the highest standards of probity, one that also provides protection for those who might be at risk of problem gambling, that’s able to provide better support — an industry that is able to fairly distribute the returns from gaming activity to players, to industry, and to businesses and indeed to governments as well,” he said.

Mr Gutwein said the Liberal policy was intended to protect jobs and the right of responsible gamblers to enjoy a flutter.

“I want to make the point that 99.5 per cent of Tasmanians are able to gamble responsibly and we believe, as a party, very strongly people should make up their own mind about whether or not they gamble and, importantly, where they gamble.”

Mr Gutwein said he met Federal Hotels Group chief Greg Farrell on Monday to outline the Liberal policy — which includes a promise to renegotiate taxes and licence fees with the casino operator.

Federal Group spokesman Daniel Hanna said the company acknowledged it would take a hit to revenue.

“The company has some concerns that the policy will mean a further reduction in the share of gaming revenue received, and does not provide the certainty or clarity beyond 2023 sought by the company,” he said.

“However, we also acknowledge that the policy achieves a balance between freedom of choice, employment and economic activity, and harm minimisation.”

The Liberals have already announced a reduction on the cap of 3680 machines statewide by 150, with 1180 of those in the two current casinos.

Both Labor and Liberal now back the establishment of the Mona casino and another high-roller venue.

Mona owner David Walsh yesterday told ABC radio he held poker machines in contempt. “It’s no secret that I think pokies are essentially grandma-raping machines that don’t service a need in the community, and they’re a very inefficient way of raising revenue and they’re a very inefficient way of distributing revenue and creating jobs,” he said.

Recent studies suggest there are about 8000 Tasmanians considered to be problem gamblers, with a social cost estimated at up to $184 million each year.

Labor leader Rebecca White said the Liberal policy was not in the community’s best interests. “Today’s announcement entrenches poker machines and the misery that comes with them in our towns and suburbs for another 25 years,” she said.

“By extending the licence by 20 years, the Liberals are cementing the harm caused by

pokies for another generation.

“The Premier has sold out and rolled over to the gambling lobby.”

Greens gambling spokeswoman Andrea Dawkins said the policy announcement was at odds with the recent gaming inquiry which recommended substantial cuts to poker machine numbers. “The only way to truly mitigate the risk of pokies addiction is to remove poker machines from the com- munity. The Liberals’ pokies policy will lock Tasmanians into 20 years of further suffering. It demonstrates their lack of social conscience or compassion, and clearly states who they really represent — big business and gambling barons, not people.

Independent Federal MP Andrew Wilkie also condemned the policy.

“It’s a fact that poker machines increase crime, dom- estic violence, suicide and childhood poverty.

“And it’s clearly also a fact that the Tasmanian Liberal Party is completely and utterly beholden to the vultures in the poker machine industry.”