Star enters new dominion

CASINO operator Star Entertainment’s foray into enemy territory in Cairns is an interesting move.

Star boss Matt Bekier and his team hosted an invitation-only event at the Pullman Cairns International hotel yesterday to seek interest from suppliers and tourism operators for their $3.6 billion Queen’s Wharf project and a $400 million expansion on the Gold Coast.

It’s part of a regional roadshow throughout Queensland.

On paper, it appears to be Star’s way of inviting all Queensland businesses to get a slice of their enormous pie in the southeast corner. But, their visit to Cairns could be seen as a clever subtle political manoeuvre, a public relations or flagwaving exercise aimed at the State Government as part of the global tourism hub process (including a casino). Or is it just coincidental? At this stage, Star is not willing to discuss if it has lodged an expression of interest in the hub, earmarked for the waterfront in Wharf St near the current Reef Hotel Casino.

However, being a major player in Australia, it would be remiss of Star not to.

A second casino in both Cairns and the Gold Coast has drawn a lot of opposition.

Mr Bekier has been vocal about a second casino on the Gold Coast as a possible rival to his operations at Broadbeach and the government process or lack of. He believes the Glitter Strip cannot sustain a second casino.

But Mr Bekier would not discuss the Cairns situation because of the current expressions-of-interest process.

It’s all very intriguing. Nick Dalton Deputy editor