The Tasmanian Greens today said the Tasmanian Labor and Liberal parties had run out of excuses for stalling the introduction of a state-based $1 poker machine bet limit.
Greens Gaming spokesperson Kim Booth MP today condemned the Australian Labor Party for capitulating to the Liberals and backsliding on its own national pokies reforms.
“It’s well known Tony Abbott couldn’t care less about pokie victims, but the Australian Labor Party’s backslide on pokies has cemented its reputation as being a party that stands for nothing,” Mr Booth said.
“This is a challenge to the Premier and to the Tasmanian Labor Party to stand up for something, unlike their federal colleagues, and back a $1 bet limit in Tasmania.”
“It is also an opportunity for the Tasmanian Liberals to redeem themselves after their dishonest 2010 election commitment to support a $1 bet limit, which they then promptly ignored and voted against the Greens bill to implement the $1 bet limit.”
“Both Liberal and Labor hid like cowards behind the mooted federal reforms, whilst shedding crocodile tears about the damage pokies cause.”
“The feasibility work has been done at the state level by the Select Committee on the Gaming Control Amendment Bill 2010, and the $1 bet limit could be implemented tomorrow if there was the political will.”
“The Greens are committed to protect our community from the addictive scourge of pokies and regardless of Labor or Liberal, the Greens will use the next term of Parliament to continue the campaign to get rid of these machine locusts.”
Kim Booth MP Greens Gaming Spokesperson
