Rosalie Woodruff MP | Greens Transparency spokesperson
The Liberals’ secret casino tax agreement with their major donors, Federal Group, has finally been made public today. As well as entrenching pokies harm in communities for the next two decades, this sweetheart deal could cost the Tasmanian budget hundreds of millions of dollars in forgone revenue.
It’s hypocritical for Peter Gutwein to release the changes to the Gaming Control Act 1993 for public consultation when he deliberately withheld the new casino pokies tax rate from Tasmanians during the state election campaign.
Peter Gutwein has no mandate for this 20 year tax deal. He didn’t give Tasmanians a say.
The Liberals know this dirty deal stinks, which is why they released it amid a Labor leadership change.
Mr Gutwein’s refusal to disclose the secret deal during the election suggests he knew Tasmanians would judge it harshly. Is that any wonder, given his golden handshake with Federal Group puts their profits ahead of revenue for hospitals, schools and new homes for a generation.