Labor cops pokie fallout

THE State Government won’t confirm the next round of poker machine licences will definitely extend for the maximum 20 years, as fallout over Labor’s poker machine backdown continues.

On Friday Opposition Leader Rebecca White said Labor’s policy to remove poker machines from Tasma- nian pubs and clubs was a “point in time” commitment that could no longer be pursued because the Liberals were negotiating an agreement to extend poker machine licences to 2043.

Labor has been lashed by anti-poker machine campaigners after Ms White’s comments.

Yesterday Treasurer Peter Gutwein said Ms White had gone into hiding after she made “a humiliating backflip” on ABC local radio.

“This proves Rebecca White’s leadership is on the edge and that Ms White will put politics before principle every time.”

Ms White has posted a statement on her Facebook page yesterday, saying Tasmanians who wanted poker machines out of pubs and clubs should now turn their focus to the Liberal Government.

“We stand by the policy we took to the election because we know that Tasmanians want to see the harm caused by poker machines minimised,” Ms White posted.

“Unfortunately we did not win. If you feel passionately about this issue you should lobby the Liberal Government and Will Hodgman and tell him what you would like to see for our state. He is the Premier drafting legislation and he is the Premier negotiating the new licence arrangements until 2043.”

The Mercury asked for clarification on whether the licence to Federal Group for poker machines in casinos and the new direct poker machine licences for pubs and clubs would be granted for the maxi- mum term of 20 years. The Liberals’ election policy says the licences will be negotiated for “up to” 20 years.

A spokesman referred the Mercury to comments by Premier Will Hodgman on Friday, who said the election policy still stands.

Mr Gutwein said yesterday he expected legislation would be tabled in the 2020 financial year.