Cassy O’Connor MLC, Greens Democracy and Integrity Spokesperson
The Australian Electoral Commission’s latest political donations disclosures reveal the Tasmanian Hospitality Association donated $217,700 to the Liberals between 27 and 30 June. The THA also donated $31,000 to Labor at the end of June.
That’s right in the middle of the State Election campaign – and right before the Greens’ new donation disclosure laws came into effect on 1 July. Clearly the THA deliberately timed these massive donations to keep Tasmanians in the dark during the election, and ultimately to buy a policy outcome that favours the pokies industry.
Despite calls for transparency from the Greens during the election campaign, the Liberals kept them secret too. It stinks to high heaven. Tasmanians deserved to know the donations made to the Liberals during the election campaign, and what favours were bought, before they casted their vote.
Vica Bayley MP, Greens Treasury Spokesperson
This is the latest shameful chapter in the long tradition of the pokies industry corrupting politics by buying influence and policy outcomes with its payments to the Liberal and Labor parties.
Let’s be real. The THA isn’t just giving these massive donations to the Liberals for the sake of charity. They are doing so to make sure they get things their way – and so they have.
Despite all the evidence showing a loss limit card would reduce problem gambling while boosting jobs and the economy, the Rockliff Government have ditched this positive reform at the request of the gambling industry. In doing so, they’ve raked in huge political payments from the same industry, all at the expense of vulnerable Tasmanians and their families.
No doubt we’ll get all the usual excuses from Liberal politicians, but Tasmanians won’t buy it. Most people will look at this situation and they’ll see corruption.
