Australian Liberal Party defends pokies

Australian Liberal Party, the major centre-right political party in Australia, has supported the operations of Poker machines based in Tasmania.

The Australian Liberal Party extended its hands to back up the Tasmania’s sector campaign arguing in favour of poker machines in the region. As per an official statement released this week, the Tasmanian party endorsed poker machines and pledged to retain poker machines in pubs and clubs if they were fortunate enough to win the upcoming March election.

On the other hand, the opposition proposed to remove 2400 poker machines from 98 venues throughout Tasmania, asserting this will create 183 jobs at a cost of $50 M in government grants to venues. By means of poker machines, along with Keno, in hotels and clubs the Tasmanian Government, received $31.5 M in revenue in the year 2015–2016, as part of $81.8 million in total revenue produced by the Tasmanian gaming sector.

Premier Will Hodgman promised to keep the poker machines. He told local reporters on Tuesday “We respect the fact that gaming and gambling is a lawful activity”. And added: “We fundamentally believe that Tasmanians should be able to exercise choice and to participate in gambling activities in its various forms.”

Hodgman concluded: “We are not a government or political party that believes in dictating to people.”

All poker machines operating in Tasmania are subject to stringent legislation, regulation and national standards which ensure that machines available for play in Tasmania are safe and enjoyable for consumers.