Cassy O’Connor MP | Greens Leader
Tasmanians living in some of the State’s most socio-economically disadvantaged areas continue to bleed money in to the Federal Group coffers.
The latest Tasmanian Gaming Commission data reveals that in the month of April alone, $1.5 million was poured into the EGMs in Glenorchy.
In Launceston in April, $1.2 million was lost by gamblers. In Burnie, almost half a million was lost.
This is money that’s coming out of the pockets of some of our poorest citizens, most of it straight in to the coffers of the Sydney based Federal Group.
These losses lead to untold human misery, contributing to poverty, homelessness, family violence, addiction, child neglect and mental illness.
The Liberals want to entrench this profound social harm to 2043. They have been bought and sold by the gambling industry who funded and delivered a Liberal election win.
Treasurer Gutwein has flagged legislation to give effect to their socially and economically reckless gambling policy early in 2020.
Labor took to the election a strong policy to remove EGMs from pubs and clubs. People voted for Labor on the basis of this commitment.
The current makeup of the Tasmanian Parliament provides an opportunity to prevent the entrenchment of harm caused by poker machines.
Tasmanian Labor has a moral responsibility to act in the public interest and stick with their policy when the votes are counted on Treasurer Gutwein’s legislation.