The donations from the pokies industry are once again flowing to Labor and Liberal politicians in an election campaign. The Electoral Commission’s donations’ register tells the story of grubby political money in real time.
Thousands of dollars have been handed over to Labor, the Liberals and even the Shooters, Fishers and Farmers Party after the 1 July disclosure date. Of course, we don’t know what money changed hands before 30 June.
The influence of the pokies lobby over the major parties has been clear again in recent times, with both abandoning the desperately needed pokies pre-commitment card.
Once again, we are seeing the Liberals and Labor raking in donations from this damaging industry. It’s appalling.
Tasmanians deserve better than politicians accepting cash in return for policy outcomes. Far better.
This is exactly why we need to ban political donations from vested interests like the gambling industry, property developers, and liquor and tobacco companies.
The only reason Tasmanians are actually seeing these donations when it matters most – before they vote – is because the Greens’ donations reforms passed in the last parliament. When we go back into Parliament, we will be moving to ensure this is the last time gambling interests can buy political favours at an election.
