Government knows Coast casino sites but remains silent on locations

Labor is under increasing pressure to release the sites favoured for a Gold Coast casino resort. But the Government is keeping them secret.

CONSULTANTS for the State Government have created a shortlist of 11 sites for a potential second casino resort on the Gold Coast but those locations still remain confidential.

The Bulletin understands real estate experts the CBRE Group first created the list in 2016 under the watch of State Development Minister Anthony Lynham.

The sites were mentioned as part of a closed door briefing to councillors in November last year and removed from a council report later made available online.

Labor is being embarrassed by the secrecy about the sites with Premier Annastacia Palaszczuk yesterday accused of misleading State Parliament after advising that the list was “done by the council”.

SOUTHPORT ‘PREFERRED’ CASINO LOCATION AFTER GOVERNMENT CRUNCH NUMBERS

Carey Park at Southport - one of the favoured sites. Picture Glenn Hampson.

The Premier during Question had advised Bonney MP Sam O’Connor that “he might want to pick up the phone to Mayor Tom Tate”.

Mr O’Connor at the start of Parliament today tabled minutes of the council briefing which showed the list was identified by a consultant employed by the Government.

He intends to make a complaint about the Premier to the Speaker of the House.

“Mr Speaker I believe the Premier may have deliberately misled the house in her answer, and I will be writing to you to consider this matter for referral to the ethics committee,” Mr O’Connor said.

SECRET CASINO LIST SHOULD BE MADE PUBLIC

The Vomitron site in central Surfers Paradise is considered a potential site.

The Premier later told the Parliament that she had sought further advice and “I’m advised my advice to the House yesterday was correct”.

But Tourism Minister Kate Jones shortly after corrected the record.

“I can confirm that the advice I gave to the Premier yesterday was in relation to the council briefing held on the 21st of November, 2018,” Ms Jones said.

“This briefing was conducted by council officers and I can confirm it was based on work commissioned by the department in 2016. I apologise for any confusion in the advice I gave.”

After Opposition frontbenchers taunted Ms Jones, she fired back by accusing the LNP of being inconsistent on its position on the planned global tourism hub on the Coast.

PUBS AND CLUBS UNITE TO FIGHT SECOND CASINO

Kate Jones in State Parliament. (AAP Image/Dan Peled)

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She said the former Newman Government had created the two casino licences because it wanted to develop more of the resorts across the State.

Ms Jones said the LNP from 2013 had championed more casino resorts because it would help create jobs.

Opposition leader Deb Frecklington supported a casino if it created jobs but “she just can’t get her backbenchers to back her in”.

“The LNP have to come clean with the people of the Gold Coast, what their position is. Do they support it. We are the only ones who have been honest with the people of the Gold Coast,” Ms Jones said.