Dr WOODRUFF question to PREMIER, Mr ROCKLIFF
You told the Tasmanian Hospitality Association (THA) that you were walking away from your pokies pre‑commitment card policy, but you did not tell Tasmanians. In fact, you pretended otherwise every time you were asked. You had question after question in parliament and from the media, and you have been dishonest every single time. You knew Tasmanians, including those in your own party room, would be furious that you are walking away from your harm minimisation measures. You have misled problem gamblers, you deceived Michael Ferguson and your colleagues, and you lied to the people of Tasmania. What do you say to them today?
The SPEAKER – I will take the point of order I am about to hear.
Mr ABETZ – Speaker, I think all colleagues know in this place that personal reflections, such as accusations of lying and dishonesty, are against the Standing Orders. It detracts from the civility that ought to be in this Chamber. I would ask the member, through you, to withdraw those disparaging comments.
The SPEAKER – Accusations of lying can be made through substantive motions, Leader of the Greens. Other phrases of ‘mislead’, et cetera, were entirely parliamentary. May I ask you to withdraw and rephrase?
Dr WOODRUFF – Thank you, honourable Speaker. Premier, you deceived Michael Ferguson –
Members interjecting.
The SPEAKER – Sorry, I will ask you –
Mr Abetz – Withdraw.
Dr WOODRUFF – I said –
The SPEAKER – No. Who yelled out ‘withdraw’. Do not yell at me.
Dr WOODRUFF – I said I would withdraw, so I withdraw.
The SPEAKER – The member has withdrawn the comments of lying. She is now rephrasing the last part of the question. We are ignoring the timing because the point of order took that time.
Dr WOODRUFF – Premier, you misled problem gamblers. You deceived Michael Ferguson and your colleagues, and you were sickeningly deceitful to the people of Tasmania. What do you say to them today?
Mr ABETZ – Honourable Speaker.
The SPEAKER – I will take the point of order. You need to say it is a point of order.
Mr ABETZ – Yes, the point of order is along the lines of the previous one. To accuse somebody of deception is the same as dishonesty and needs to be withdrawn. The member knows the forms of this House. I invite you to encourage her to withdraw.
The SPEAKER – I encourage everyone to be mindful of their language. However, if I ruled out every time someone in this parliament said that something was deceitful or dishonest, particularly on your side of the benches, Mr Abetz, we would have very few debates left in this parliament. I do not disagree with you in terms of the substantive impugning of motive. However, this is a matter of significant concern to the community, and the Premier is prepared to answer the question.
I do think we should all be mindful of the impugning of motives we make in this House. I remind members that there are substantive motions of processes in the House they can move if they wish to accuse members of dishonest behaviour. That would be a more appropriate way. Question time allows some flexibility. It has in the past. However, I am mindful of the Leader of the House’s commentary in terms of the way we behave and refer to each other in this House.
ANSWER
Honourable Speaker, I reject the member’s accusations. I have always answered questions honestly. Our announcement today aligns with our election commitment. We are committed to engaging with other states on the introduction of pre‑commitment. It is a complex issue. In the meantime, we will look at other areas around facial recognition technology, which is increasing in capacity, and third-party exclusion, and other areas, including investing in wraparound services to support vulnerable Tasmanians.
My responsibility is to consult and get the balance right for all Tasmanians. I believe the announcement today aligns with the election commitment and also gets the balance right.
SUPPLEMENTARY QUESTION
Dr WOODRUFF – A supplementary question, Speaker?
The SPEAKER – I will hear the supplementary question.
Dr WOODRUFF – In the Premier’s answer, it is clear that even right now he is still pulling the wool over Tasmanians’ eyes. You are abandoning the policy. Why not be honest with Tasmanians right now, just once, and tell them you are not going to implement a mandatory pre‑commitment card? Just be honest. That was the end of my question.
The SPEAKER – I am glad it was the end of your question. I will rule it in order because of the significant public interest and because it does go to the Premier’s answer about the other mechanisms he was looking at employing. However, I will focus on the only part of it that was a question, which was about the mandatory pre‑commitment card.
Mr ROCKLIFF – Honourable Speaker, I urge Dr Woodruff to read today’s media release –
Dr Woodruff – I have read it.
Mr ROCKLIFF – which clearly outlines our commitments to these areas.
Dr Woodruff – You are deferring progress. That means ‘never’.
The SPEAKER – I will call the Deputy Leader of the Opposition, who will be heard without other people interjecting.
