Secret casino sites must be revealed: MP
PREMIER Annastacia Palaszczuk is being accused of misleading Parliament about the planned second Gold Coast casino.
Bonney MP Sam O’Connor yesterday asked the Premier to reveal “Labor’s secret list of 11 public spaces” being considered for the proposed global tourism hub (GTH).
“I advise the member that that was not done by the State,” Ms Palaszczuk replied.
“I am advised that it was done by the council. Perhaps he might want to pick up the phone to Mayor Tom Tate.”
The Bulletin last month confirmed Southport’s Carey Park was one of 11 sites “in play” for the Coast’s second casino.
City councillors had been briefed behind closed doors on a confidential draft report on the project, which advised that PricewaterhouseCoopers (PWC) had been appointed by the Government and completed a strategic assessment.
“Eleven sites were identified by PWC as having potential to support a GTH on the Gold Coast,” the report to councillors said.
The sites were listed in order of ranking but that section was redacted in the report later put online on the council website.
Outside the Parliament, Mr O’Connor told the Bulletin: “The Premier has mislead Parliament. The 11 secret sites for a second casino are from a report the Government asked for, not the council.
“Gold Coasters deserve to know which public land Labor want to turn into a new casino. Release the secret list.”
Ms Palaszczuk’s office did not respond to questions from the Bulletin.
Mr O’Connor said the Government should be upfront about the location given the impact of a casino in a city which loses “nearly $40,000 an hour to pokies”.
The responses have shocked Southport MP Rob Molhoek, who has been supporting residents in their campaign to preserve public land at Carey Park.
He asked why the Premier was being “so quick to duck and weave on our question about proposed locations”.
“I thought the proposed EIO for a global tourism hub and casino was being proudly championed by the Premier and Minister for Tourism,” he said.
“Why is the Premier now flick passing this to council? What’s changed? Why is the Premier now distancing herself from the proposed tourism hub and casino? Why is she now denying the State’s initiation of and active participation in this proposal?”