Gold Coast second casino protest: signs warn “Kate’s not our mate” and target Meaghan Scanlon

The protest campaign against a second casino on the Gold Coast has gotten personal with a Gold Coast MP targeting Tourism Minister Kate Jones and Gaven MP Meaghan Scanlon.

THE protest campaign against a second casino on the Gold Coast has got personal with LNP MP Rob Molhoek targeting Tourism Minister Kate Jones and Gaven MP Meaghan Scanlon.

The Southport MP, who last month vowed to chain himself to a tree if the government approved Carey Park as the preferred site for a global tourism hub (GTH), has authorised several controversial placards for a resident information session tomorrow.

One placard reads “Casino Kate’s not our mate — tell Labor hands off our park”.

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Tourism Minister Kate Jones when announcing plans for a second Gold Coast casino resort. Picture Glenn Hampson.

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Another features a photograph of Ms Scanlon and gives a tick to parklands as opposed to a casino, and support of local clubs and carparking rather than a GTH.

The attack has fired up the government with sources viewing it as a cheap shot by Mr Molhoek for attacking the female MPs which they say “explains why the LNP gets so few female candidates”.

Acting Tourism Development Minister Di Farmer accused Mr Molhoek of “total and utter hypocrisy” because the LNP had campaigned for a new casino with more than 2000 extra poker machines on The Spit.

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Gold Coast casino placards organised by LNP MP Rob Molhoek featuring Labor's Meaghan Scanlon.

Gold Coast casino placards organised by LNP MP Rob Molhoek featuring Kate Jones.

“He can’t be trusted and is the last person who should be lecturing the government about what’s in the public interest,” Ms Farmer said.

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Destination Gold Coast chairman Paul Donovan said Mr Molhoek had “crossed the line” because the government was acting responsibly by appointing business leaders to seek community feedback.

“I do not think the current placards that are being circulated are professional or helpful,” he said.

“It won’t have any impact on the final decision.”

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State MP Rob Molhoek is prepared to chain himself to a tree if necessary to save Carey Park from development. Picture Glenn Hampson.

But Mr Molhoek said “Kate and Meaghan needed to come clean” on the 11 secret sites and rule out Carey Park.

“Kate Jones and Annastacia Palaszczuk need to get their stories straight. Are they buying back 1600 EGMs (poker machines) from the Gold Coast or across Queensland (for the GTH)?

“How many of the EGM licences in the buy back are tied to the operating machines? How many are just future entitlements for clubs but not in action?”

Mr Molhoek described Surfers Paradise as the Coast’s global tourism hub and encouraged the government to focus on infrastructure relief to help encourage more development.

The information session organised by former councillor Eddy Sarroff includes a free sausage sizzle in the park between 9am and midday.