Dr WOODRUFF question to PREMIER, Mr ROCKLIFF
Yesterday, you announced a shameful abandonment of what was once proudly described by your government as nation‑leading pokies reforms. In the media release on this devastating broken promise, it said this decision was based in large part on a report provided to the government by MaxGaming. Despite this report apparently being so crucial in this decision, you did not release it and have denied requests from media who have asked for it.
Surely, you must agree that the public has a right to understand on what basis the government has taken this sickening decision? This is the most basic form of transparency. Will you table the MaxGaming report in parliament today?
ANSWER
Honourable Speaker, we will release the report. Not today, but we will release the report ‑ all of it. We are working through some IP issues, and when they are resolved, we will release the report. I said that yesterday. It is pretty straightforward when we work through those matters, including IP, and when they are worked through and resolved, we will release the report. We are going through stages with the Deloitte report as well, and when that is completed, we will release those reports as well in full transparency.
A lot was said yesterday about the matters of gaming reform. It so happens that we are not 100 per cent aligned on the issue today. I reckon we are probably 80 per cent aligned. We seem to be 100 per cent aligned with the Labor opposition on this, which we believe is a balanced way forward. It is their right and ours to have a position on gaming reform. You might not like it. You have your position. You are entitled to that position, but what we are continuing to do as a government is getting all the information and ensuring that the gaming reform process continues. We support vulnerable Tasmanians, particularly those with gambling addiction and a number of matters I detailed yesterday, as did minister Jaensch. When it comes to these matters, this discussion is not finished.
The reform process is underway. I understand the commissioner said this morning on the radio that this is complex. It is complex, and that is why we have chosen to work with other states. I will be writing to other states on this matter, and you will ask me if I can release those letters, and I will, publicly, for people to see, so that we can work through a national approach on this issue. This would seem to me to be quite a sensible way forward, given there is a national approach to issues around a number of matters to do with social media and other matters we are working through.
The SPEAKER – The Premier’s time for answering the question has expired.
SUPPLEMENTARY QUESTION
Dr WOODRUFF – A supplementary question, Speaker?
The SPEAKER – I will hear the supplementary.
Dr WOODRUFF – The Premier talked about IP issues as a justification for hiding that information from Tasmanians. I understand that the government commissioned the report. Why are there IP issues when the government commissioned the report itself?
The SPEAKER – I will call the Premier to the question, noting that we should not impugn motive in questions.
Mr ROCKLIFF – Thank you for the supplementary question. The report is about the delivery for a system and there are IP matters that need to be taken into consideration with that new system. That is the fact.
Dr Woodruff – When are you going to release it?
The SPEAKER – The Leader of the Greens will stop interjecting. This is not a conversation between you and the Premier. It is Question Time in the House of Assembly.
Mr ROCKLIFF – I said I would release the report when these matters are taken into consideration, including the Deloitte report, in full transparency. You will have some words to say about that when they are released and all sorts of things. I made that commitment yesterday. I recognise you do not agree with everything I have said, but you would have to agree that we need to do everything we possibly can now when it comes to harm minimisation.
The SPEAKER – The Premier’s time for answering the question has expired.
