LIBERALS BACKFLIP TO BLOCK POKIES $1 BET LIMIT MOVE

Campaign for Pokies Reform Will Continue

The Tasmanian Greens today vowed to continue their campaign to introduce a state-based $1 bet limit on poker machines, after both Labor and Liberal parties joined to vote to defeat the Greens’ Bill.

Greens Gaming spokesperson Kim Booth MP said that defeat of the pokies $1 Bet Limit move would shock many Tasmanians who believed that the Liberals’ policy was to support such a move.

“In 2009 the Liberals then-spokesperson Mr Brett Whiteley moved to introduce a pokies $1 bet limit, which the Greens supported but unfortunately was defeated by the majority Labor government,” Mr Booth said.

“Four years ago under Will Hodgman’s leadership, Deputy Leader Jeremy Rockliff, Rene Hidding and Peter Gutwein all voted for a $1 bet limit on pokies. Today they voted with Labor to block its introduction.”

“Let’s be clear about this, the current power-sharing parliament gave the Liberals the numbers to deliver on this important reform.”

“This was a day where the Liberals could have made Tasmania a national leader by voting to pass and implement a state-based $1 bet limit on pokies.”

“This was a day where Tasmania could have succeeded where Ms Gillard and Mr Wilkie failed.”

“Instead the Liberals failed.”

“But the Greens will not give up. We will not abandon the thousands of Tasmanians, the families and local businesses all who have been impacted upon by pokies and pokie addiction.”

“The community will keep up the fight for pokies reform, as the statement by Bishop John Harrower today affirms in which he states, ‘I am saddened that both Labor and Liberal members are not willing to pursue poker machine reform at this time. I call on both major parties to change their priorities in this area’.” [1]

“While this vote reveals how badly out of touch both Labor and Liberal are on this issue, at least Labor have been consistent in their opposition to a $1 bet limit. In contrast, the Liberals stand exposed for their politically opportunistic desperation to block any positive reforms to the point they are now voting against measures they themselves moved four years ago.”

“Now the Liberals are actually in a position to effect change for the benefit of struggling Tasmanians through a power-sharing parliament, they squibbed that opportunity and betrayed the community,” Mr Booth said.

*Second Reading speech for Gaming Control Amendment ($1 Bet Limit) Bill 2010, Kim Booth MP, 22 May 2013:

[1] Media Release “Bishop Supports $1 Bet Limit on Pokies’, released by the Anglican Bishop of Tasmania, the Right Reverend John Harrower, 22 May 2013.

Kim Booth MP Greens Gaming spokesperson Wednesday, 22 May 2013