Coroner & Legal
Wilkie: A statement regarding the possible bribery of politicians
This afternoon I referred to a range of Commonwealth and New South Wales agencies allegations of poker machine industry bribery of Members of Parliament.
Serious crimes could have been committed by a number of people according to revelations on the ABC TV 7.30 program on Tuesday 6 October. I am referring the matter to multiple agencies because the circumstances are now so unclear there is doubt over exactly which jurisdiction and investigative body is most relevant given all of the claims, counter-claims and altered testimonies.
Peter Garrett is a credible witness and his initial claim of being offered a bribe by the poker machine industry carries great weight. Equally relevant is the history of the pokies industry in Australia which is littered with episodes of unscrupulous behaviour. In my opinion for them to be going around bribing politicians wouldn’t surprise me at all.
Even more worrying is the suggestion on 7.30 that a number of federal and state politicians have accepted, or at least been offered, bribes by the poker machine industry. If this is true then there is a systemic scandal of enormous proportions. Without an official investigation we seem unlikely to get to the bottom of what is potentially a most serious matter.
Download … copies of the letters to the Australian Federal Police, NSW Police, NSW Independent Commission Against Corruption, Australian Electoral Commission and the NSW Electoral Commission are attached:
• Greg James in Comments: Bullying and intimidation are just as relevant and effective, but appear to be legal. Note the 2008 episode when Will Hodgman questioned the investments made by the Farrell family in Tasmania over the renewal and extension of the poker machine license. There was never 150 jobs and hotel to match the promises by Farrell when he received the extra poker machines. Hodgman thought this was worth talking about until Farrell took out three pages in our local newspapers and stated our Premier was unfit to govern. Hodgman shuts up never to be heard on this matter again. The next renewal will occur after the 2017 state election. Although Farrell (in my view) will buy off both major parties with cheap $20,000 donations it’s a good bet to say he will side with the compliant workers and union party, the ALP. Inevitably they, the ALP can be bought cheaply and with their pious convictions and rusted-on voters, they will do what they are told by the money men. Jim Bacon changed sides after spouting his contempt, Paul Lennon opposed poker machines until he was a minister and Lara Giddings sold out the poor before blind Freddy could blink. The poker machines are all over the poorest suburbs vacuuming up their disposable income, turning their strip shopping centres into wastelands of vacant tenancies. Go see Bridgwater and the empty shops or the poverty in surrounding suburbs and then count the machines. These are the ALP voting suburbs of Tasmania. I have yet to hear Brian Green say one critical word about this parasitical exploitation and poverty. Small business is silent because it is non existent. Tasmanian politicians in the major parties sell themselves very cheaply because they are bullied and intimidated very easily. Do not forget that this can work both ways, I believe there will be an organised reaction to this outrage and the naming and shaming of politicians who support this parasitical, hypocritical monopoly will be a pleasure to organise.