Sack public servants … but do not disturb Greg Farrell’s business

Note well, Lara went nowhere near the excess profits being generated by Federal Hotels.

If it’s good enough to tax the mining industry, a creator of jobs that also creates excess profits, then shouldn’t it be incumbent on the State Government to review the excess profits of the gaming contract it awarded.

Today as every day, Federal Hotels will remove from the state’s poor and gullible $600,000. Yet Lara closes schools and eliminates 100 police and more health workers.

Yesterday, Federal Hotels took out $600,000, no jobs were created, no exports made and no innovations or savings occurred for the community.

Tomorrow, Federal Hotels will remove $600,000 from the disposable income flowing around the Tasmanian community and the ALP and Liberals will do nothing about this. The daily cost of operations to Federal Hotels is a fraction of this $600,000.

Lara if you had the political will to look after your constituents, the State employees and the commercial wellbeing of the state, you could tax Federal Hotels of the excess profits they generate from the poor of Glenorchy and have a balanced budget.

Lara, review the ‘Gaming Deed’, you have the reasons, Federal Hotels did not honour their side of the agreement, they did not perform to the agreed contract. You also have Don Challen out of the way.

In the next few days and every day this year, Federal Hotels will remove from the economy of this State $600,000. That’s $225 million per annum, but it seems you would rather fire health workers and police than disturb Greg Farrell or his way of life. Yet you want to disturb 1400 former possible supporters of the ALP.

When you retire from politics, which probably will be soon, never mouth the words, “I wanted to but…”.

This comment first appeared on this article, HERE

Pokies losses increase
Highlights Federal Trial Missed Opportunity

Kim Booth MP Greens Gaming spokesperson

The Tasmanian Greens today pursued the ongoing losses on pokies that are routinely over $16 million each month , and reiterated their call for Labor to revisit the decision to knock back a Federal proposal to trial in Tasmania pokie reforms and pre-commitment technology due to industry pressure.

Greens Gaming spokesperson Kim Booth MP said that recent Treasury figures reveal that over $18 million had been lost on pokies for the month of April alone, which is a disturbing trend in the wrong direction as Tasmanians brace themselves for doing hard while facing the Budget challenges ahead.

“Tasmanians are losing money hand over fist on pokies, with a further $18, 829 598 lost over April, which the Greens believe highlights the missed opportunity that was the Federal offer for Tasmania to trial the proposed pre-commitment reforms,” Mr Booth said.

“Pokies are specifically designed to ensnare and capture vulnerable people with the deliberately crafted enticing sounds and colours, and measures to counter this was one aspect which the proposed Federal trial could have started to address.”

“The money being fed into these greedy machines is then not available to heat homes as we head into winter, put food on tables, put children through school, or contribute to keeping small businesses alive.”

“At this rate, Tasmanians are right on track to lose well over $200 million again this year.”

“This damaging pattern keeps occurring year after year, which is why the Federal trial offers a potential path to break through industry hype and assist Tasmanians in need,” Mr Booth said.

Reference: Electronic Gaming Machine Expenditure by Rolling Year, Department of Treasury and Finance: http://www.treasury.tas.gov.au/domino/dtf/dtf.nsf/alls-v/CD36BFC11D136484CA2575E10006E703