NO MORE EXCUSES ON STATE-BASED POKIES REFORM

The Tasmanian Greens today said Labor and Liberal had now run out of excuses for delaying a state-based $1 bet limit on poker machines, with the ACT pre-commitment trial delayed indefinitely and claims of ‘sovereign risk’ now completely debunked.

In the House of Assembly today, Greens Gaming spokesperson Kim Booth questioned the Minister about a clause in the 20-year lease with Federal Hotels that gave the Crown “absolute discretion to cancel all or any part of the Exclusive Right under clause 7 without being liable to pay compensation.”

Mr Booth said the Deed made clear there was no sovereign risk if the government undertakes pokies reform and with the Federal Government’s pre-commitment trial now sunk, it’s time to start work on state-based $1 bet limits.

“Labor parrots the idea of sovereign risk like it’s a free pass to avoid making tough decisions that Federal Hotels might not like, but which will measurably reduce the harm from gambling addiction,” Mr Booth said.

“Now that reform has stalled at the federal level, there are no more excuses to delay the introduction of a state-based $1 bet limit.”

“This is the same company that walked away from its 20-year lease agreement to operate the West Coast Wilderness Railway with absolutely no penalty, revealing a shocking double standard regarding sovereign risk.”

“The Greens’ patience has run out, not to mention the patience of addicts’ families, ex-gamblers, gambling counsellors, welfare agencies and the many others who deal every day with the wreckage of gambling addiction.”

“Surveys show that 87% of Tasmanians think that pokies are a serious social problem, and the Minister now needs to listen to the community and support them by standing up to the pokie barons.”

“Labor and Liberal are refusing to do anything for pokies victims, and once again the Greens are the only party with the courage to stand up to big business when their operations degrade families and communities.”
Kim Booth MP Greens Gaming Spokesperson Wednesday, 6 March 2013