Claims of ’hiding’ as GTH sites withheld

THE State Government is being accused of hiding behind Cabinet secrecy after refusing to release details of the 11 secret sites for the proposed Gold Coast global tourism hub.

Labor is also under fire from residents who believe the consultation process will be flawed following the appointment of leading consultants.

The Bulletin can reveal the Opposition in a Right to Information request had sought details on a strategic assessment of the GTH undertaken by PwC.

Only Gold Coast City councillors have viewed the PwC assessment, which occurred during a presentation from State Government officers in a closed session at city hall.

A redacted version of that report was released but the 11 sites had been blacked out.

The LNP since January have taunted government frontbenchers about releasing the sites, saying Coast residents needed to know the locations put forward by its officers.

LNP Deputy Leader Tim Mander, after receiving the latest advice, accused Premier Annastacia Palaszczuk of refusing to release important details about the planned second Coast casino.

The RTI officer told the LNP the report was “part of the Cabinet Submission and is still under consideration”, and therefore exempt information.

“Labor is using Cabinet secrecy to hide the report. As it stands, foreign companies are going to get to choose where a second casino is located without any input from locals,” Mr Mander said.

Resident leader Eddy Sarroff has expressed his concerns about the consultation process after learning about consultants engaged to assist the tourism advisory panel chaired by businessman John Witheriff.

The Bulletin has learned that KPMG had recently completed some work for the clubs industry in Queensland, and the association’s leading body opposes a GTH.