Australia’s national Broadcaster reports
The Tasmanian government’s controversial pokies legislation is set to become law after passing the state’s upper house.
Key points:
- The bill passed eight votes to five, with the support of most Labor and all Liberal members
- It ends the Farrell family’s monopoly on gaming licences, in place since 1968
- The bill now goes back to the House of Assembly for approval
The legislation will allow venues to own or lease their own poker machines from mid-2023, ending the powerful Federal Group’s monopoly on gaming.
It also slashes the tax rates paid by the Federal Group on poker machine takings at its two casinos, almost in half.
Five members voted against the bill — Labor MLC Bastian Seidel and independent MLCs Ruth Forrest, Rob Valentine, Mike Gaffney and Meg Webb.
Eight voted in the affirmative, including all other Labor members and all the Liberal MLCs.
The legislation now goes back to the House of Assembly for final approval, and it is expected to sail through.
Ms Forrest said the legislation remained deeply concerning.
“A well-regulated monopoly would have been a better proposition,” she said.
“This bill fails to deliver effective harm minimisation measures. I cannot support it, I’m surprised if others believe they can.”
Mr Valentine said the bill was not in a fit state to become law.
“It is not what I believe the majority of Tasmanians want,” he said.
Read more at https://www.abc.net.au/news/2021-11-24/tas-pokies-legislation-passes-upper-house/100645840
