Qld Premier to consider Star tax relief, confident of ‘good deal’

Premier David Crisafulli will consider Star Entertainment Group’s plea for tax relief as part of a last-ditch ploy to strike a “good deal” for taxpayers and some 6000 casino workers.

Premier David Crisafulli said he was confident Star would be saved.

• Star’s last ditch plan to avoid collapse

Premier David Crisafulli will consider Star Entertainment Group’s plea for tax relief as part of a last-ditch ploy to strike a “good deal” for taxpayers and some 6000 casino workers.

Casino chief executive Steve McCann on Saturday revealed a temporary pause on the payment of gaming taxes to the Queensland and New South Wales government to buy time for executives to turn the business around.

Mr Crisafulli, who since coming to office in October has repeatedly insisted Star’s reported financial troubles was a matter for the company, on Sunday revealed his government was open to negotiating.

“We’ll consider any request that comes forward,” he said.

“My only interest is on continuity of operations of that casino and making sure that the people employed here today are employed tomorrow.

“I’m confident we can find a way to make that occur that represents a good deal for everyone.”

Star Entertainment Group paid $164.9m in taxes and levies to the Queensland Government last financial year, down from $184m the previous year.

Mr McCann has suggested the best way to protect the employment of 9000 workers – including some 6000 in Brisbane and on the Gold Coast – was to ensure the company survives.

Star Entertainment Group chief executive Steve McCann.

Mr Crisafulli declined to comment, however, on what conditions or caveats might be attached to a pause in gaming taxes or other financial support offered to Star.

“I’m not going to comment on that,” he said.

“We negotiate vastly differently to the former government, but I’m confident there’s a way through.”

He indicated, however, the government was not considering providing taxpayer cash to Star Entertainment Group in the form of a loan.

“We’re not going to be tipping money into a company or be focused on the viability of the company,” he said.

Mr Crisafulli also slapped down suggestions it was up to the Queensland and New South Wales governments to rescue Star.

“I’m neither a shareholder or sitting around the board table at Star, that’s for them to determine,” he said.

“If they’ve got creditors they have to deal with that’s a matter for them.

“We only have one focus, and that is the jobs and the continuity of jobs, regardless who runs that facility.”

Mr Crisafulli said he had confidence workers would be protected and, should Star collapse, Queen’s Wharf would “absolutely not” become a white elephant.

Fears are emerging that should Star collapse an administrator could seek to minimise the cost of Queen’s Wharf through job losses and a pause in construction work, before putting it on the market.

“My firm view is it must continue to operate, not parked and then go on some sort of fishing expedition to find someone to take over it if that occurs,” Mr Crisafulli said.

Once Star’s future is clearer the government will also probe the terms and conditions struck with the former government about the opening of Queen’s Wharf.

Originally published as Qld Premier to consider Star tax relief, confident of ‘good deal’