Tasmania's high stakes "referendum" on the future of poker machines will be keenly watched when the island state votes this weekend. The state has been largely shielded from the waves of scandal which have recently crashed over Canberra and the federal implications of Saturday's state election are unlikely to be gauged by how much water the state's Liberal government has taken on. Instead, the gaze of most mainland observers will be fixed on the Labor opposition's plan to strip pokies from pubs and clubs by 2023. Tasmanian state elections are usually run and won on kitchen table topics such as jobs, schools and hospitals. But Tasmanian Labor Leader Rebecca White has thrown a cat among the pigeons by promising to banish electronic gaming machines to casinos and the ferries that cross Bass Strait. It is an especially contentious issue on an island where one company, the Farrell family's Federal Group, owns all the pokies. The Tasmanian Liberals have instead promised to keep pokies in pubs and clubs for 20 years from 2023, when the Federal Group's monopoly license is due to expire, and transfer licenses to individual venues. Ms White's Labor is the first major party anywhere in the country to propose such drastic pokies action. Campaigns for and against gambling reform have been well organised and highly visible. Interstate politicians, anti-gambling advocates and industry groups will be watching closely to see where the chips fall on March 3. Malcolm Turnbull has visited Tasmania once since the state election was called in late January, sailing in at the height of a maelstrom surrounding his then-deputy Barnaby Joyce and dragging the storm across the strait. Fortunately for Premier Will Hodgman the local blowback wasn't too bad, given his state Liberal branch doesn't break bread with the Nationals. Mr Turnbull gave the premier's pokies stance measured support by echoing his concerns about potential jobs lost. Opposition Leader Bill Shorten was far less forward in endorsing Labor's stance during his campaign visit, insisting pokies were a state issue, and admitting he fancies a punt. Federal Labor MPs tried for a time to bring the GST to the fore, but given the state's cross-party support for the existing carve-up formula, the consumption tax has barely rated a blip on the election radar. Firebrand former senator Jacqui Lambie is fielding underlings in the state election, but despite her personal popularity and ambition to hold the balance of power, pollsters predict she will be lucky to pick up one seat. The campaign has been tough for the Tasmanian Greens without a core environmental issue at play. Four years ago the Greens had five state MPs, but that could be reduced to two. The party has tried to steer the conversation towards fish farming and climate action, but has focused much of its attention on apparent "corruption" in the gaming industry. The Hodgman government is expected to secure a second term, albeit with a reduced majority, but the gaming debate could see Labor defy the odds. Australian Associated Press
PM Malcolm Turnbull has backed Tasmanian Premier Will Hodgman's pokies stance
Tasmania's high stakes "referendum" on the future of poker machines will be keenly watched when the island state votes this weekend.
The state has been largely shielded from the waves of scandal which have recently crashed over Canberra and the federal implications of Saturday's state election are unlikely to be gauged by how much water the state's Liberal government has taken on.
Instead, the gaze of most mainland observers will be fixed on the Labor opposition's plan to strip pokies from pubs and clubs by 2023.
Tasmanian state elections are usually run and won on kitchen table topics such as jobs, schools and hospitals.
But Tasmanian Labor Leader Rebecca White has thrown a cat among the pigeons by promising to banish electronic gaming machines to casinos and the ferries that cross Bass Strait.
It is an especially contentious issue on an island where one company, the Farrell family's Federal Group, owns all the pokies.
The Tasmanian Liberals have instead promised to keep pokies in pubs and clubs for 20 years from 2023, when the Federal Group's monopoly license is due to expire, and transfer licenses to individual venues.
Ms White's Labor is the first major party anywhere in the country to propose such drastic pokies action.
Campaigns for and against gambling reform have been well organised and highly visible.
Interstate politicians, anti-gambling advocates and industry groups will be watching closely to see where the chips fall on March 3.
Malcolm Turnbull has visited Tasmania once since the state election was called in late January, sailing in at the height of a maelstrom surrounding his then-deputy Barnaby Joyce and dragging the storm across the strait.
Fortunately for Premier Will Hodgman the local blowback wasn't too bad, given his state Liberal branch doesn't break bread with the Nationals.
Mr Turnbull gave the premier's pokies stance measured support by echoing his concerns about potential jobs lost.
Opposition Leader Bill Shorten was far less forward in endorsing Labor's stance during his campaign visit, insisting pokies were a state issue, and admitting he fancies a punt.
Federal Labor MPs tried for a time to bring the GST to the fore, but given the state's cross-party support for the existing carve-up formula, the consumption tax has barely rated a blip on the election radar.
Firebrand former senator Jacqui Lambie is fielding underlings in the state election, but despite her personal popularity and ambition to hold the balance of power, pollsters predict she will be lucky to pick up one seat.
The campaign has been tough for the Tasmanian Greens without a core environmental issue at play.
Four years ago the Greens had five state MPs, but that could be reduced to two.
The party has tried to steer the conversation towards fish farming and climate action, but has focused much of its attention on apparent "corruption" in the gaming industry.
The Hodgman government is expected to secure a second term, albeit with a reduced majority, but the gaming debate could see Labor defy the odds.
