Betfair-PBL set to open Hobart HQ within months - Sunday 27th of November 2005
Betfair-PBL plans to open its Australian headquarters in Hobart within months after the Tasmanian Parliament passed laws allowing a betting exchange.
The consortium expects to get its licence within weeks but there are hurdles to operating Australia-wide, including a Victorian law that some claim could prevent Betfair advertising and publishing race fields in that state.
Spokesman Andrew Twaits says he is staring down such threats.
"Provided our application is treated on its merits, which by law it has to be, we are very confident that well receive approval to publish race fields," Mr Twaits said.
Tasmanian Opposition spokeswoman Sue Napier says she is concerned about retaliatory action from national racing interests.
"Thats what Im worried about, the kind of backlash thats potentially going to happen to Tasmania," Ms Napier said.
Premier Paul Lennon says Betfair-PBL will act as a beacon for further Tasmanian investment.
Study
Meanwhile, welfare advocates and the Tasmanian Greens are cynical about the State Governments agreement to hold a triennial social and economic impact study after licensing Betfair-PBL.
Both parties welcome a study but Anglicare says it is overdue and should have been agreed upon earlier, rather than as part of a deal to get the Betfair legislation through Parliament.
Greens MHA Kim Booth says there should be a baseline investigation.
"Its an absurdity actually - unless the study is done first to give you a baseline study, its useless," Mr Booth said.
"Its going to be retrospective three years later - were going to have a study to see if theres going to be an effect.
"Whats the Premier going to do then?"
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