It is a well-known fact that The Greens is a political party that does not like poker machines. The group has worked hard for reduce the number of poker machines in the country and has campaigned tirelessly for $1 betting limits. So, it seems surprising that The Greens would accept a donation from CFMEU, which operates 540 poker machines across the country.
Recent reports have shown that The Greens have received $12 500 from the CFMEU. It is an interesting donation, as The Greens have campaigned against poker machines while CFMEU earned more than $10 million in profits from its poker machines last year. The Greens are not ashamed of the donation, however. The group has defended itself, stating that it is more concerned with CFMEU’s dedication to workers’ rights.
It seems that the its place in the poker machine market is a secondary concern for The Greens. “Poker machines are their business arm,” says Indra Esguerra of The Greens. “But their main thing is to ensure that workers are looked after. Their main thing is that they are a workers’ union and that’s where we’re coming from.”