Detox centres

IT is a pity our government does not show as much enthusiasm for placing detox and drug rehabilitation centres around the state as it does for allowing poker machines in municipalities that can least afford to “exercise their choice”. Addiction, whether to drugs and alcohol or gambling, places an enormous burden on society and fallout affects family and friends. There will always be people for whom poker machines act like a drug. Placing these in hotels where they are readily accessible is a

Compromise

LIBERAL and Labor are playing a game of political tennis with poker machine policy. It’s one or the other, all or nothing. T4TTasmanians 4 Tasmania believes there is a compromise. Our suggested policy is that poker machines are removed from hotels and returned to casinos. Registered clubs (RSLs, sporting and social) will apply to have machines. They will own/lease them and profit returned to the club. We believe this will result in membership growing and employment opportunities. Numbers of machines and location will be considered in approving applications. We believe this provides a good compromise, but we also realise you can never please everybody.

I see it all the time

THE scare campaigners are not worried about people’s lives. In my local pub I see this all the time: People lined up waiting for others to lose their money and jump 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.

Reaching depths

THE scare campaign has now reached the depths where even the RSL has succumbed. It is no longer the proud place of service and remembrance but a corporate entity captured by the establishment responsible for sending many pokie players into despair. If Glenorchy RSL wants to retain credibility and proud tradition it cannot continue to walk both side of the street. If Glenorchy RSL cannot survive without pokies that is a matter for them but to expect me to go quietly following the comments Anzac Day is under some sort of threat without pokies is more than just naive.

I have the medals of my grandfather proudly hanging on the wall in my house but I am happy to donate them to the Glenorchy RSL to hang on the wall in place of the first poker machine to bite the dust.

No one is putting their jobs on the line more than the young Labor team just trying to do the right thing.

Spend a penny

THE Liberals have urged us to embrace the “sharing economy”. Come on you budding entrepreneurs around infrastructure-deficient tourism hot spots. Your home loos sit idle for many hours a day. A large number even have more than one facility. Here’s a chance to help your state. Start up your own Looloo’s” enterprise and watch tourists line up to “spend a penny”*. Can’t miss. (*$2.95 RRP).

Weapons shame

I HAVE a better idea for a headline Malcolm: “Government invests $3.8 billion in renewable energy and sustainable carbon sequestration technology”. But no, $3.8 billion of taxpayers’ money is being invested in weapon manufacture. Shame.