Rosalie Woodruff MP | Greens' Member for Franklin
In Parliament this morning, and ahead of the Pembroke by-election this weekend, the Greens tabled a petition expressing the deep community concern about the damaging impact of poker machines.
The petition, which attracted 471 signatures in just two weeks, called on the Liberals and Labor to remove pokies from pubs and clubs. It’s past time these parties put the interests of the community first, instead of their corporate donors.
There are 150 poker machines, specifically targeted to the lower income areas of Pembroke. Those machines are designed to addict and drain money from disadvantaged families.
The Liberal and Labor parties have a once in a generation chance to free Tasmanians from predatory gambling by ending Federal Hotels’ monopoly deed, and getting pokies out of pubs and clubs.
Unfortunately, they have both refused to rule out taking donations from Federal Group in the lead up to the State election, and to putting the community before their corporate interests.