Cassy O'Connor MP | Greens Leader and Treasury spokesperson
The Treasurer's Federal monopoly rhetoric in Parliament today remains empty and meaningless, despite its bombastic delivery.
The simple reality is that the Liberal Government has no mandate to roll over Federal Hotels' monopoly deed.
It is clear that the Liberals have once more rolled over to Federal and are using the MONA high roller proposal as a stalking horse to extend the socially-toxic monopoly deal.
It is abundantly clear what $72 000 in political donations will buy you, when you look at the Hodgman Liberal Government.
This is the same Party who proposed a $1 bet limit amendment in November 2009, a policy position that was never mentioned again after Federal Hotels gifted them $15 000 less than a month later.
What we have here is a Treasurer and Premier rolling over to the bidding of their benefactors, all while low income Tasmanian families feel the very real and widespread pain of problem gambling.
The Liberals have no mandate to extend the monopoly deal, and they know it.