Labor divided about second Gold Coast casino as Premier Annastacia Palaszczuk hedges her bets

Claims Tourism Minister and Premier ‘divided’ on issue of second Gold Coast casino as speculation mounts about potential sites on secret list.

Premier Annastacia Palaszczuk is being accused of creating business uncertainty on the Gold Coast by hedging her bets on a second casino.

Tourism Minister Kate Jones has been selling the Government’s plans for a global tourism hub and gained strong backing from Mayor Tom Tate.

But the Premier has been less vocal, facing a potential reprimand after her response in State Parliament to questions by Bonney MP Sam O’Connor where she declined to talk about potential sites for the GTH.

LNP State Development and Planning spokesperson Andrew Powell, on the Gold Coast, told The Bulletin: “On a lot of things we are seeing particularly in the last couple of weeks, Labor is divided, Labor is all over the shop on this.

Aerial view of Carey Park at Southport. Picture Glenn Hampson.

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“We are seeing Kate (Jones) fully for it, the Premier hedging her bets and that is creating an enormous amount of angst on the Gold Coast and incredible uncertainty in the business community.

“As I said, the residents at the end of the day simply need peace of mind.”

Mr Powell visited Southport’s Carey Park with Mr O’Connor and Southport MP Rob Molhoek who have campaigned strongly against a second casino, fearing it will destroy the public parkland and hurt community clubs.

Residents led by former councillor Eddy Sarroff have staged a rally in the park with some from nearby properties admitting they cannot sleep at night fearing a casino on their doorstep which overlooks the Broadwater.

Mr Molhoek believes the process should follow commercial lines with developers working from a private site.

“They go out and buy the land or they get an option over the site. They develop a proposal and seek approvals,” he said.

“But all this backdoor dealing that we are seeing with the Labor government, all these secret lists, at this point we have no idea what’s proposed.

LNP MPs Shadow State Development Andrew Powell (C), Southport MP Rob Molhoek (R) and Bonney MP Sam O'Connor (L) are putting pressure on Premier to consult publicly on 11 casino sites on Gold Coast. (Photo/Steve Holland)

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“Sadly it’s just a terrible game of smoke and mirrors that is going on and I don’t think it is showing any respect for people of the Gold Coast.”

Mr Molhoek said he was hopeful the message being sent from residents at rallies and by signing petitions was having an impact.

“I hope the message is getting through. Sam and I have certainly raised it enough times in State Parliament,” he said.

“So Kate Jones has no excuses for not understanding clearly what people of the Gold Coast expect. We’ve asked the question repeatedly would she rule out Carey Park. She has refused to give a clear answer on that.”

Mr O’Connor has sent a letter of complaint to The Speaker alleging the Premier, after answering his questions on the GTH, was in contempt of the Parliament.

Mr O’Connor asked the Premier to list the 11 potential sites for the second casino but she advised him to pick up the phone and call Mayor Tom Tate because that information was on a council agenda.

Despite the Opposition arguing that the list was prepared by government consultants, the Premier maintains her answer was correct.