In a letter to the Examiner Newspaper,August 4 Sue Napier ,Leader of the Opposition in Tasmania said "Peter Gilligan has been the voice of Tasmanian racing for 20 years yet he is to be sacrificed in the name of efficiency". Mrs Napier doubts that the Launceston Cup will be quite the same without the Gilligan Call.Racing Minister Paul Lennon and the Tasmanian Government cannot hide behind Tote Tasmania forever,as local patrons lose their favourite racecaller and access to Tote at their local pub.
The same efficiency argument was used to remove the facilities from South Launceston as well as Tote Tasmania facilities inside the All Year Round Tavern,in the same suburb.Having had their 2 local Tote Tasmania facilities removed the locals,many of whom are elderly are being told to travel to the city centre to visit a Tote.
Launceston Sportal agrees with the comments of Mrs Napier, and further asserts that for the average punter it is not the placing of the bet that makes the pastime so pleasurable but being able to do so in familiar surroundings with friends.There is the also the added convenience of being able to sup on a pint while watching the race at the bar.
