Is Labor hoping for donation boost from pokie tax cuts?

SMH, page 1, today.

"There is no justification for the Keneally government providing generous tax breaks to 485 hotels that will no longer have to pay tax on their gambling profits," Ms Rhiannon said.

"The hotel industry have had a massive win in this year's budget and it is at the expense of the public purse.

"Premier Kristina Keneally should publicly explain why she and Treasurer Eric Roozendaal made this change that reduces state income while providing a great boost to many wealthy hotel owners.

"The government might try and sell this change as a rescue package for small country pubs but it looks more like a rescue package for NSW Labor desperate to attract more political donations in the lead up to the state election.

"This looks like an unsavoury deal stitched up by Labor insiders.

"The Australian Hotels Association brokered the deal, described by the AHA's President as benefiting 65 per cent of NSW hotels.

"John Whelan, a former chief of staff to the former gaming minister Grant McBride, who now works for the AHA, played a key role in winning this tax break.

"Gambling should be treated as a health issue not a potential revenue tap by the Labor Party desperate to boost its election campaign coffers.

"If the Premier was committed to assisting the vulnerable in our society she would not have allowed this tax break to be included in this year's budget

"Over the past decade the gaming, hotel and club industry has donated more than $7 million to Labor and more than $4 million to the Coalition parties," Ms Rhiannon said.

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