Aussie TAB to open on Good Friday for first time

SYDNEY - Tabcorp says its punters want to bet on Good Friday, but its outlets will only operate if staff are willing to work.

The decision to open TABs on Good Friday for the first time ever has drawn widespread condemnation from politicians, anti-gambling groups and religious organisations.

Rob Nason, managing director of Tabcorp, told Macquarie Radio they were "last to the market" because gambling was already occurring on Good Friday in pubs, clubs and the casino.

"Our customer feedback says our customers want us to be open," he said.

"We're doing this in a totally discretionary fashion.

"We're not obligating any TAB to be open, we're saying we will operate the service if you choose to open and we're saying that to our staff members as well.

"No one will be made to work. It will be entirely voluntary."

However, NSW Premier Nathan Rees led a chorus of politicians - both federal and state, and from all sides of politics - who oppose Tabcorp's decision.

Mr Rees said he wouldn't be changing legislation to allow NSW race clubs to hold meetings.

At this stage punters will only be able to bet on race meetings in Singapore and South Africa and two NRL games.

"I, personally, am not comfortable with it," Mr Rees told reporters on Tuesday.

"If Tabcorp wants to open its betting shops on Good Friday, they are able to do that.

"There is no racing on, which is good, and I certainly won't be placing a bet."

Nationals Senate leader Barnaby Joyce said while he might not be a saint, he believed TABs opening on Good Friday was wrong, a position echoed by Family First Senator Steve Fielding.

Salvation Army coordinator of problem gambling services Gerard Byrne said there were some days of the year that should remain gambling free.

"There's a sense in which we have availability and access to gambling out there that is so rife at the moment, to have a couple of days a year, one of them being Good Friday, when these venues don't open, we think it's a more positive thing rather than a negative thing for the community," he told AAP.

Mr Byrne added it was important to uphold Christian traditions in Australia.

"This is a community predominantly built on Christian principles, where we have and recognise and give importance to certain events," he said.

"As a community we ought to be respecting that irrespective of what our personal individual belief systems are."

Meanwhile, more than 80 stores including Myer and David Jones, have applied for permission to trade on Easter Sunday.

Trading on Easter Sunday has previously been restricted to small shops employing no more than four people, but the director-general of commerce, Graeme Head, now has power to permit larger shops to open.

- AAP