Tasmanian pub pokies to be phased out
The Tasmanian Labor Party has vowed to phase out poker machines in pubs.
It has pledged to remove poker machines from Tasmania’s pubs and clubs by 2023 if it wins the next election.
That will make Tasmania the second state in Australia without pokies in pubs and clubs.
It will see more than 2300 poker machines phased out from venues. Gaming machines will still be allowed in casinos.
But Labor will not extend the deal with the Federal Group, which allows poker machines in venues other than casinos, beyond 2023 under a monopoly licence.
Labor said it would provide a $55 million package to encourage venues and businesses to voluntarily retire the electronic gaming machines before 2023.
This includes $4 million to be spent on staff retraining and professional development at nearly 100 affected pubs and clubs.
While community groups and anti-pokies campaigners welcomed the announcement, Tasmanian premier Will Hodgman warned it would cost jobs.
Announcing the policy at a Hobart community centre, Opposition leader Rebecca White said gambling had a devastating impact on families.
"Last financial year, Tasmanians lost $110 million on poker machines in pubs and clubs,” Ms White said.
"Economic modelling has shown that it could provide an additional 180 jobs in Tasmania if only half that money is spent in the community."
The policy was welcomed by anti-pokies campaigner and independent federal MP Andrew Wilkie.
"We know that poker machines cause or at least add to many social ills including crime, domestic violence, suicide and childhood poverty," Mr Wilkie said in a statement.
The Labor policy is a point of difference with the Liberal Government which plans to to cut the number of pokies in the state by 150 by 2023.
Mr Hodgman said the Labor policy would hurt business.
"We've heard from operators of hotels across the state, which support local economies, that if poker machines are removed in their entirety it will cost jobs," Mr Hodgman told reporters.
14th December 2017
