’Buffoons’ blew Star deal
MP blasts Labor over lost opportunity to secure convention centre upgrade
A GOLD Coast MP has labelled State Government leaders and advisers buffoons for “bungling” a deal with The Star for a $100 million upgrade of the Gold Coast Convention Centre.
Mermaid Beach LNP MP Ray Stevens said if Labor had done the deal with Star – which has stood down thousands of staff – it would have given tradies and tourism an immediate post-coronavirus lift.
A month after talks began before Christmas, details emerged of a 30-year casino monopoly push in which the entertainment giant Star would contractually commit to its $2 billion masterplan, including five more towers, and a $100 million for the convention centre upgrade.
It would also upgrade its Sheraton Mirage property. Star has previously said the convention centre money was ready to go, meaning any construction could begin as soon as possible.
“I cannot believe the Palaszczuk Labor Government’s financial incompetency of not grabbing Star casino’s offer of $100 million to expand the Gold Coast Convention Centre last year, when it was on offer,” Mr Stevens said.
“In return for exclusivity of casino operation on the Gold Coast for 30 years we would have got an upgraded convention centre which will be sorely needed when we come through this coronavirus catastrophe.”
Mr Stevens also said the Government going to the market for a global tourism hub developer was “hocus pocus” and a rival to Star “never existed, was never identified”.
“We could have had a signed convention centre expansion contract for $100 million by Star Entertainment
Group which would have given tradies, builders and tourism operators something to look forward to when we come through this COVID-19 tunnel,” he said.
“Instead, we have Star standing down thousands of staff and coming under financial stress itself with no expansion of the convention centre in sight.
“Thank you Annastacia Palaszczuk, Kate Jones and your buffoon Labor Party advisers for not delivering a golden opportunity for investment in Gold Coast tourism infrastructure. You are no friends to the Gold Coast and we can’t wait for October 31 to come around for the Queensland state election.”
Tourism Industry Development Minister Kate Jones told the Bulletin: “Given Australians are still dying every day, it’s upsetting to see such cheap political point scoring from Ray. The reality is, if there was an offer to build a $100 million convention centre with no strings attached, we definitely would have accepted it.
“The Mayor agreed that the deal offered was not in the best interest of Gold Coasters.”
Ms Jones said the Government would always act in the best interests of Gold Coasters, not take the politically easy fix.
“When it comes to acting in the best interest of the Gold Coast, I’d trust Tom Tate over Ray Stevens any day,” she said.
A Star Entertainment Group spokesman said: “Everyone is aware of the impact on tourism with the coronavirus. It has changed the landscape, it is impacting everyone.
“However, we remain in an exclusive negotiation process with the State and it would be inappropriate to comment on that process or the state of that process.”
THE one bit of really positive news to emerge from an LNP versus Labor row in today’s newspaper about Star’s proposed convention centre expansion deal is it obviously is still on the table.
That’s right. Remember last year and all that hoo-ha about a global tourism hub (the State Government’s euphemism for a rival casino resort option to Star’s Broadbeach Island complex)?
Where that was left before coronavirus hit, was secret negotiations began between Star Entertainment Group and State Government about a centre deal. Star would put up $100 million for much-needed expansion along with contractually committing to its $2 billion masterplan for Broadbeach and sprucing up its beachfront Sheraton Mirage in exchange for 30 years of casino exclusivity.
In light of LNP MP Ray Stevens “cheap shot” as Tourism Minister Kate Jones has called it, Star has confirmed the deal must still be live – by acknowledging it could not possibly comment on the convention centre talks as they were ongoing.
Thankfully for this city, that is one hope on the horizon that has not been extinguished by this devastating pandemic.
It has so far claimed, to varying degrees, the NRL and AFL, Virgin Australia and potentially 46 per cent of this city’s inbound domestic visitors.
But to know that at the end of this, whenever that might be, the city construction industry and for that matter it’s tourism industry, could have a mega convention centre expansion to look forward to is a bright prospect.