1968 Tasmanian casino referendum

The Wrest Point Riviera hotel was purchased by the Federal Group in the 1960s, and the new owners approached Premier Eric Reece about the prospect of the Tasmanian government granting a licence to create an entertainment complex and convention centre that would contain a small casino on the premises,[1] citing that it would attract tourists during Tasmania's traditional winter "tourist slump". Reece agreed that a casino would be a tourism attraction in Tasmania Reece and together with health minister Merv Everett began to promote the development. Despite a vigorous campaign there was considerable opposition to the casino bill when it was introduced to parliament on 4 October 1968 as no casino licence had been granted in Australia before. Two weeks later The Mercury newspaper reported the bill was likely to be lost by one or two votes. Reece and Everett then withdrew the bill and on 31 October 1968 announced a referendum would take place to decide the issue.[2]

The legislation to permit the referendum was itself highly contentious and did not pass parliament until 21 November 1968, after which the date of the referendum was set to be three weeks later on 14 December. With the vote on a knife's edge, it is alleged that the government deliberately proposed a question that was opaque. The question put to the people was:

Are you in favour of the provisions of "Wrest Point Casino Licence and Development Act, 1968", the full text of which has been published in the newspapers?"[2]

Despite having a vote on the bill scheduled in December, and with the campaigning already underway, the state Labor government, realising they had the numbers on the floor of the parliament, brought the bill to a vote on 6 November 1968. After a non-stop thirty-hour debate and with the vocal opponent Mac Le Fevre overseas and not paired, the bill passed at 5am on 8 November 1968.[2]

In effect, the electorate was being asked to vote on a bill that had already been passed.

The referendum passed by a margin of 6%, although the bill had already passed in October that year, granting the licence to the Federal Group. There was considerable opposition to the casino, and concern over the fact that a monopoly licence was awarded to Federal Hotels without any call for a tender.[4]

The Wrest Point Hotel Casino was completed and opened in 1973.

In 1985, the casino introduced poker machines, to much opposition. The pokies have since spread around the state.[1]

• Kevin Lyons