State Government says no casino licence available for GKI

PLANS to redevelop Great Keppel Island and boost Central Queensland tourism has just received a slap in the face.

Tower Holdings CEO Terry Agnew and Capricorn Enterprise CEO Mary Carroll discuss the Great Keppel Island Revitalisation Project in Rockhampton. Photo Sharyn O'Neill / The Morning Bulletin. Picture: Sharyn O'Neill

PLANS to redevelop Great Keppel Island and boost Central Queensland tourism have just received a slap in the face.

Fifteen minutes ago, Member for Keppel Brittany Lauga received a call from Deputy Premier Jackie Trad saying the Labor Government will not support a boutique casino licence for GKI.

Ms Trad claims there is no licence available.

Tower Holdings CEO Terry Agnew says this is a huge loss for the people of Central Queensland and more specifically the people of Yeppoon and Rockhampton.

"This is a major slap in the face for wholly-owned Australian corporations trying to reinvigorate the tourism industry and Central Queensland economy," Mr Agnew said

"I've put nine years of my working life and tens of millions of dollars into this and received a slap in the face.

"Not once have any of the top five members of the new Labor Government been prepared with me or any of my staff.

"Whatever is going on behind the scenes might be good for the Labor Party but it's a disgraceful decision for the people of Central Queensland who once again missed out. The obvious question is why?"

Mr Agnew is meeting with supporters of the project at The Strand Hotel at midday. Everyone is welcome. Read more about the meeting here: Gambling with the Great Keppel Island big guns today

More developments on this story to appear online throughout the day.

Originally published as State Government says no casino licence available for GKI