Gold Coast second casino: Tourism Minister Kate Jones challenges The Star to show why it should stay Coast’s sole casino resort operator

Tourism Minister Kate Jones has challenged The Star to show why it should stay Gold Coast’s sole casino resort operator as its boss questions her move to invite competitor proposals.

TOURISM Minister Kate Jones is challenging The Star to show why it should stay Gold Coast’s sole casino resort operator as its boss questions her move to invite competitor proposals.

Star Entertainment Group CEO Matt Bekier yesterday let rip after the State Government called on global giants to register interest in developing a world-class gaming resort.

In a bland Australian Stock Exchange statement, The Star said it had no detail on minimum investment in what the government calls “global tourism hubs” (GTH), any locations and what gaming was allowed.

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Managing director and CEO of The Star Entertainment Group, Matt Bekier. (AAP Image/Josh Woning)

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In a blunter statement to the Bulletin, Mr Bekier said it was a process started several years ago.

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“It has realised to date only failed proposals, zero investment and a $9 million compensation payment to a previous proponent ASF,” he said, in reference to the Labor Government pulling the pin on ASF as a preferred project partner for a resort at The Spit.

“The poker machine market is already saturated. Pubs and clubs will struggle to survive the entry of another operator,” he said. “We also challenge any suggestion there is not already a GTH.”

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Star Gold Coast plans for an open-air concert venue at its Broadbeach Island site. SUPPLIED

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The Star will have $2.3 billion in investment in Broadbeach when its third tower — a Dorsett hotel — is done and had approval for four future towers for another $2 billion worth, Mr Bekier said.

“This will be delivered with no additional poker machines. It is foolhardy to think a second casino operator will consider entering the market without a considerable number of poker machines.”

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But Ms Jones, who is adamant she will never allow a net increase in Gold Coast pokies in any new hub, shot back last night: “We are not committed to two operators on the Gold Coast. We are committed to a fully integrated resort which includes world- class tourism infrastructure.”

There will be no new pokies. Photographer: Liam Kidston.

Ms Jones has invited The Star to bypass the registration of interest and go straight to an expression of interest.

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“There is an opportunity for Star to show they should be the exclusive operators,” she said.

Ms Jones said The Star’s commitment to the under-construction $3 billion-plus Queens Wharf hub in Brisbane “demonstrated they could be the sole operator”.

“Their first proposal was $400 million and in the end a more than $3 billion project was agreed to under a competitive process. So why should the Coast get anything less than what Brisbane got? One of the great things in this process is it enables Star to say they are going to put their money where their mouth is.”

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Asked if she agreed with Mr Bekier that its Broadbeach plan already was a GTH, she said tourism and airport bosses were saying the city was “dramatically lacking” convention and entertainment space.

“In Brisbane, they are contractually obliged to deliver what they are saying. On the Coast right now residents have no certainty that what they say they are going to deliver, they will deliver.”