A legislatively-required report into the impact of gambling on communities was submitted to the state government in late December, but Treasurer Peter Gutwein has not yet been briefed on its contents.
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On Sunday Premier Will Hodgman said the report had been received by the state government in December but neither he nor the Treasurer had yet been briefed on its contents.
The creation of a new Social and Economic Impact Study of Gambling is a legislative requirement every three years under the Gaming Control Act 1993, and contains data analysis, consultations and surveys with stakeholders to assess the impacts of gambling in Tasmania.
Questions from the media over the report’s completion produced a contradiction on Saturday as the report’s author confirmed it had been completed and submitted to the state government.
However, the Treasury Department said the was not yet completed and had not been submitted to the department.
On Saturday Mr Gutwein issued a statement acknowledging the existence of the report and confirming its submission to his department in December.
“I was informed [Saturday] morning that the SEIS report was received by Treasury on the 22nd of December,” Mr Gutwein said.
“Neither myself nor anyone in my office has seen the report and I have requested this morning to be briefed on it as soon as possible.”
Mr Gutwein said he would release the report in full due to public interest.
Opposition treasury spokesman Scott Bacon expressed skepticism that Mr Gutwein was not aware of the report’s completion or submission to his department.
“It defies belief that Mr Gutwein was not aware the latest Social and Economic Impact Study of Gambling has been delivered to government and then he suddenly found it in his department,” Mr Bacon said.
“This report is crucial in allowing Tasmanians to understand the effect of poker machines on the community and it’s important Tasmanians have all the facts.”
Mr Bacon accused the government of “secretive” behaviour over public interest issues.
But Mr Hodgman said the report would be released as soon as possible once the Treasurer had been fully briefed.
“The Treasurer will be briefed in the next couple of days and the report will be released in a matter of days,” he said.
“All Tasmanians will be able to look at the report and see what it contains.
“It will be important in the debate, of course, there’s a lot of public interest and it’s important these things are done properly.”
