Pokies debate divides pubs
The big debate now for Tasmanian publicans is over the issue of pokies.
Some are now saying they will pull their membership from the Tasmanian Hospitality Association.
The Duke licensee Doug O’Neil is planning not to renew his $900-a-year membership of the peak body in protest.
“They’re not representing hospitality, they’re representing Federal Group,” Mr O’Neil told the Sunday Tasmanian.
He agrees with comments from Labor and the Greens that the election campaign had been “bought” by the gambling lobby.
“It was completely bought out,” the Macquarie St operator told the Sunday Tasmanian.
“I don’t know how much the THA spent but they got it all back.
“I know they obviously do have lots of pokies venues, but I didn’t think they would be such a major player.
“If all they’re doing is pushing the pokies, then should they be the peak hospitality body?”
Several other publicans agree with him and are refusing to join the THA or renew their membership.
The pokies issue flared into the biggest talking point of the election campaign when Labor announced it would join the Greens in banning the machines from pubs and clubs by 2023. The result was a backlash from gaming venues with many outlets becoming instant billboards for the Liberal Party.
THA chief executive Steve Old conceded there had been some concerns.
But he was unaware of any of the THA’s 400 members pulling out.
“If any member was worried about what we’ve been doing, none of them have contacted us,” Mr Old told the Sunday Tasmanian.
“I’d happily sit down with them and have a conversation with them and explain exactly what we did as an association for them during that period and also following that.
“In the end, it’s their choice what they do.”
“There’s been a few that have said to us that they believe the non-pokie venues don’t understand the impact it would have downstream to their venue as well.
“Would The Duke be happy if the Government gave money to a venue to be better than theirs?”
Leon Getler 20th March 2018.
