Poker machines and new forms of gambling in pubs and clubs look set to be entrenched for generations, after the Liberals gagged debate and pushed the Gaming Control Amendments (Future Gaming Market) Bill 2021 through the House of Assembly, with the Bill supported by Labor.
Under the cover of darkness, Labor voted with the Liberals more than 40 times to push this sickening and parasitic Bill through the Lower House.
These two old, amoral parties long ago forgot what principles look like. They were both far too content to do the bidding of the Tasmanian Hospitality Association and their donors in the gambling industry.
This is, by definition, institutional corruption.
Unlike the Labor Party, the Greens were proud to stand by our policy to remove pokies from pubs and clubs.
We stand by every amendment we proposed – and that were opposed by the old parties.
We spent the 23 hours of debate on this quid pro quo Bill trying to remove the most dangerous elements, amend it and build in harm minimisation measures.
It was only Rosalie Woodruff and I, along with Independent Member for Clark, Kristie Johnston, who were steadfast in opposition to this Bill – acting in the public interest.
At least there were three honest women in the House to try to make this legislation less corrupt and socially devastating.
The Bill will now go to the Upper House. We hope Labor find their spine, and soul, some time in the next week, but we won’t hold our breath.
