Election pokies strategy defended

THE poker machine lobby didn’t buy the State Election, Tasmanian Hospitality Association chief Steve Old has told a Liberal-aligned think tank.

Mr Old received loud cheers from the party faithful as he declared the election a fair contest, but not the THA’s treatment by the media.

The association was criticised for campaigning against Labor’s proposed ban on pokies in pubs and clubs during the campaign.

He took aim at the Mercury’s top 20 political players list, unveiled this week, for not including THA personnel despite their reported role influencing the election campaign.

Mr Old was speaking as host of a Menzies Research Centre lunch marking the Hodgman Government’s first 100 days. He told the Mercury the THA had been targeted for doing its job.

“The THA is an advocate body for its members and throughout the election campaign we didn’t look for a fight with any major political party, but we have to defend the rights of our members to protect their business,” he said. “That’s what we did.” Mr Old said the THA had been an easy target during the campaign. “I don’t think the media treated us fairly through the campaign,” he said.

“On social media it’s very easy to near defame people and make comment about people that becomes fact without having to provide any facts behind it.”