Rebecca White, head of Tasmania’s opposition Labor Party, said she will work to remove poker machines—called pokies—from bars and clubs and restricting them to casinos in the island state within five years if her party wins upcoming elections.
White has been gaining in polls against the liberal party and Premiere Will Hodgman, though an election still hasn’t been officially called.
“It’s not unsurprising to see the industry come out as strongly as it has against me and mobilize in Tasmania. We know they have money to spend,” White told Bloomberg News. “It takes a fair bit to intimidate me, particularly when I’m convinced my position is right.”
Pokies have been under fire in Australia and are seen as promoting gambling addictions. Less than 4,000 machines are in Tasmania and just 0.6 percent of its residents identify as problem gamblers. Still, the move could make Tasmania a battle ground over the machines.
The industry has already launched an advertising campaign against the policy saying it will hurt Tasmania’s workers.
According to Bloomberg, recent polls show that since becoming Labor leader 10 months ago, White has boosted her party’s chances of winning the election, which must be held by May. Liberal and Labor both had 34 percent support in December, compared with 40 percent versus 28 percent just over a year earlier.
