Cassy O’Connor MP | Greens Leader
The Treasurer, Peter Gutwein, confirmed today he has written to the Federal Group and plans to introduce legislation to progress the Liberals’ pokies policy.
The Liberals’ election policy - paid for by the pokies barons - to directly licence poker machines venues and provide a beneficial tax deal to Federal Group is a catastrophic deal for Tasmania. There is no question it will entrench social harm in disadvantaged communities until 2043. It will cost lives.
The Liberals’ plan highlights the falsehood of Labor Leader Rebecca White’s claim there is nothing they can do because they are not in government. All MPs will be given an opportunity to vote given on legislation to extinguish the Deed and introduce the Liberals’ harmful policy early next year.
The fact is, the Premier does not have a guaranteed voting majority in the Parliament. As has happened before, there is opportunity to pass legislation that is not consistent with the Liberals’ agenda, in the public interest.
The Treasurer’s announcement puts Labor on notice. They will have 12 months to come clean with Tasmanians and reveal whether they will stick with their election policy, or walk away as the Opposition Leader has indicated.
Labor must declare, to the Tasmanians who voted for them on the basis of their pokies policy, what their position is.
The Greens stand by our election policy to end the Deed and remove pokies from pubs and clubs. It is time for Labor to clearly state where they stand.
Unlike the major parties, we can’t be bought and we won’t sell out.