The
Joint Select Committee inquiry into Future Gaming Markets recently received a joint proposal from the Tasmanian Hospitality Association and the Federal Group and heard evidence from the two parties.
The
proposal highlights most of the economic and financial issues at stake for the
inquiry. The following note was submitted to assist the Committee in its
important deliberations.
The
proposal will perpetuate existing bad public policy. Benefits will accrue to
the few existing participants in proportion to the benefits they have already
received over the last 20 years. As a way of assisting businesses to grow it is
poorly targeted. Allocating perpetual licenses to existing venues for nil consideration
will not only give a windfall gain to a privileged few with
unsubstantiated benefits for the wider
community, but will tie the hand of future governments if ever they feel a need
to make changes.
