Anti-pokie stance from Tasmania young Liberal supporters welcomed by Greens
Updated
A call by a Tasmanian young Liberal supporter group to rid the state of poker machines has won rare praise from an arch political rival — but also a distancing from the Liberal Party.
The Tasmania University Liberal Club (TULC), which calls itself the state's "largest right-wing youth organisation", said poker machines should be banished from Tasmania, including in the state's two casinos.
The TULC's statement that it was "time to see these bad machines out of our state" was welcomed by the Tasmanian Young Greens and comes at the end of the first week of hearings of the parliamentary inquiry into gambling in the state.
TULC president Blake Young said the group — which he said was not officially affiliated with the Liberal Party — had taken a "hard-line" approach over the issue.
"As a centre right group, freedom and personal choice is something we do value but at the end of the day the people being damaged by pokies are the most vulnerable in our community," Mr Young said.
"They have very little money to live on and far too many are feeding everything they have into these addictive machines."
Mr Young said the money spent on machines, estimated to be about $200 million, could be better spent elsewhere.
"Are we comfortable with the fact that our economy is underwritten by poker machines? I don't think we are.
"It is a hard-line view compared to what any policy outcome might be from the current inquiry, but we definitely think our state would be a better place if poker machines weren't here."
Mr Young said there was a rare opportunity for young Liberals, young Greens and young Labor members to "speak in unison" on the issue.
Today, the state director of the Tasmanian Liberal Party, Sam McQuestin, tweeted "all Lib members entitled to their views, but please note no formal link/affiliation between Lib party and tas uni (sic) Libs".
Greens praise for anti-pokie stance
Young Greens convenor Holly Ewin congratulated Mr Young and the TULC on its position.
"The Young Greens support the removal of pokies from pubs and clubs, and it's my personal view that they have no place in the community at all," she said.
Ms Ewin said all three "young" parties could agree and it would send a strong message to politicians.
She said the Young Greens did not have a formal position on the removal of pokies from casinos, but there was "strong support".
Young Labor has been contacted for comment.
Topics: gambling, political-parties, tas
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