The Hodgman Government needs heed the call of the coalition of community sector organisations demanding urgent action to address the scourge of poker machine gambling in Tasmania immediately.
Removing pokies from our pubs and clubs would help channel revenue that is currently being lost on poker machine back into our communities, into families and into small suburban businesses. This is the government's chance to make a difference to Tasmanians in pain.
The social and financial harms of poker machines are widely known and local community sector organisations working at the frontline of this harm should be applauded for standing up for disadvantaged Tasmanians.
Community sector organisations like Anglicare, the Salvation Army and the City Missions are often the first to see the effects, as families are torn apart by gambling addictions.
This coalition of concern could be the vehicle that turns those experiences into a bridge for positive government policy if the Tasmanian Liberals are willing to listen and act.
This is a coalition of great strength. We are seeing almost all of our state's major community sector organizations uniting to remove pokies from pubs and clubs and the government must listen.
