Gold Coast second casino call soon Palaszczuk Government says
Labor’s State Government has indicated it will make a decision on testing the market for a second gaming resort on the Gold Coast “early this year”.
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LABOR’s State Government has indicated it will make a decision on testing the market for a second gaming resort on the Gold Coast “early this year”.
Pressure is mounting on Premier Annastacia Palaszczuk to make a call after Star Entertainment Group CEO Matt Bekier expressed frustration at the process.
Mr Bekier has called lack of clarity on a second Gold Coast operation a “headache” creating uncertainty for investors in Star’s $2 billion Broadbeach resort masterplan.
The Bulletin asked Tourism Industry Development Minister Kate Jones if she could shed light on when her Government would decide. She said a decision would be this year but wouldn’t comment further.
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In questions to Premier Annastacia Palaszczuk, she was asked when she would make a decision on whether to call for expressions of interest in what her Government calls a Global Tourism Hub and associated second casino licence.
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She was also asked if it was a given she would call for expressions of interest.
A reply from a Government spokesman said: “The Government expects a decision will be announced early this year.
“Any process will provide opportunity for all stakeholders to have input. We especially welcome Star’s input because of its demonstrated strong commitment to the Gold Coast and South East Queensland.”
Back in early November, Ms Jones said her government planned making a decision “about going to market for a global tourism hub on the Coast in coming months”.
In Tuesday’s Bulletin Mr Bekier said he was finding the process hard to explain to “unsettled” investors.
Clubs Queensland has said a second Coast casino would devastate RSLs and surf clubs with pokie rooms.
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In Cairns yesterday, where a global tourism hub process has begun, Mr Bekier said he could not confirm or deny if Star was involved there.
but I would make the observation that you take the larger urban markets — they only can sustain one casino.
“If you try to change the market structure like is being kicked around on the Gold Coast then the casino will have to compete with the local market.”
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