Tasmanian Government ignored gambling harm advice and puts out welcome mat to wagering companies
Alliance For Gambling Reform
The Tasmanian Government is opening the door to gambling companies and ignoring advice on reducing gambling harm in the State.
The Alliance’s Lived Experience Advocate and Tasmanian resident, Mark Kempster, said that in the last two weeks, the Rockliff Government has unfortunately shown its hand in regard to what they actually think about gambling harm minimisation in Tasmania.
“Not only have they done under-the-table deals to get predatory online wagering companies to move to the state, it has also come to light that they now have ignored all advice from the Tasmanian Liquor and Gaming Commission in relation to Poker Machine Reforms,” Mr Kempster said.
“According to FOI documents, the Rockliff government failed to seek any independent advice from the commission when devising its inadequate new poker machine reforms. Even worse, they have deliberately ignored the strong warnings given to them by the commission that the reforms they are introducing are going to create more gambling harm across the state.”
Mr Kempster said the actions of the government are shameful.
“This government has turned its back on generation changing, gold standard pokies reforms with a mandatory pre-commitment carded play system, to instead once again bow down and do what the gambling industry has asked them to do so the industry can continue to make mass profit while causing industrial levels of social harm across the state,” Mr Kempster said.
“It also cannot be forgotten that the Tasmanian Labor Opposition have gone to ground on any issues to do with gambling in this state and have shown they also do not care about gambling harm in Tasmania. This is a constant pattern of behaviour with Tasmanian Labor who have been too scared to take on this industry for over a decade now.”
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About us:
The Alliance for Gambling Reform is a national advocacy organisation working to reduce gambling harm in Australia. We partner with other organisations and with local councils to reduce the alarming level of gambling harm in Australia, we work to change the laws and rules governing the gambling industry. We do not seek to ban gambling. Rather we seek to influence government to minimise the harmful behaviours of the gambling industry and to give voice to those who are impacted by gambling harm.
Contact details:
The Alliance for Gambling Reform is Available for Interview:
Tim Costello is available for interview on 0411 633 446
Martin Thomas is available for interview on 0477 340 704