Media release – independent MHR for Clark, Andrew Wilkie, 20 December 2024
TASMANIAN GOVERNMENT goes full reverse robin hood
Independent Member for Clark, Andrew Wilkie, said the Tasmanian Government’s commissioning of a gambling company to write a report on reducing gambling addiction and money laundering in the gambling industry was both disgraceful, and a reneging of their election promise.
“Once again the Tasmanian Government have sided with the gambling industry at the expense of the people in our state.” said Mr Wilkie.
“They are comfortable with gambling companies ripping money off those in our community who are most in need, while simultaneously pushing Tasmania towards bankruptcy with one economic catastrophe after another. You couldn’t make this stuff up.”
Media release – Dr Rosalie Woodruff MP, Greens Leader, 19 December 2024
MaxGaming Report Shows Premier’s Pokies Deceit
After consistent pressure by the Greens, the MaxGaming report, used by the Liberals to justify their pokies’ backflip, has finally been released. The MaxGaming report provides evidence that the reform pathway was on track to be finalised by end 2025 – and all that was needed was ministerial approval.
Jeremy Rockliff has been wilfully deceiving Tasmanians about the true reason for abandoning his government’s promised pokies mandatory pre-commitment reforms. MaxGaming’s report shows it’s not about complexity or timeframes, it’s only ever been about the impact on pokies industry profits. The Premier has chosen to his party’s corporate donor’s interests above protecting the lives of vulnerable Tasmanians.
The MaxGaming report shows the delivery of the pre-commitment card was planned to the finest detail. There were no hurdles identified to its delivery by the end of next year, aside from further government delay. The Minister simply needed to sign it off the program by 1 November 2024.
The Premier wilfully deceived Tasmanians when he used the MaxGaming report as justification for the Liberals’ pokies backflip. This is not a complete surprise – he was dishonest with Tasmanians during the election campaign, and has been refusing to answer Greens’ questions over his pokies’ policy backflip for months.
The only people who can trust the Premier’s word are the pokies lobby. When we asked, the Premier never denied meeting with the Tasmanian Hospitality Association during the election campaign about their pokies’ policy.
The MaxGaming report is evidence a pre-commitment card scheme would make all the difference to protecting vulnerable Tasmanians from predatory poker machines. It’s tragic that Jeremy Rockliff, who many times promised Tasmanians he would lead with heart, has prioritised the financial interests of a cashed-up pokies industry over the protection of vulnerable Tasmanians.
The Premier’s betrayal will have real-life impacts on the lives and livelihoods of Tasmanians addicted to gambling – and their families. This Christmas, the Premier had chosen to gift the pokies lobby continuing massive profits. He should have chosen to make that gift to families struggling to buy their kids presents and put food on the table by reining in the addictive power of predatory pokies’ machines.
