Page 148 - Week 02 - Thursday, 25 May 1989
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Perhaps I could now take just a few minutes, Mr Speaker, to examine some of those areas. Allow me to state once again that I am not attempting to argue one way or another for or against a casino, but I am putting forward some of the points of contention that emphasise the need for a select committee to study this issue.
It may well be that a casino will be the saviour of Canberra. As federal funds dry up it may well be the case that the casino will raise revenue on its own and will further enhance the Territory's coffers to an incredibly increased tourist trade. So we are promised. On the other hand, it would seem wise to look at other casinos currently in operation. There is no doubt that the Wrest Point Casino in Hobart was a great money-spinner for that State while it was the only Australian casino in operation. However, the more recent casinos may not be making as much money as they all add to the competition. I am sure all of us have heard of the persistent rumours that the casino in Adelaide has had to be supported, at least indirectly, by the Government of that State, in spite of its prime city location adjacent to the Festival Theatre complex. And it seems to be the case that even Wrest Point is now having trouble making ends meet.
I am pointing to these not as facts but as rumours. I am asking that we ensure that we are well informed to our own satisfaction that a casino on section 19 is the right thing for Canberra. Just yesterday in this chamber we heard the Deputy Chief Minister talk about 3,000 jobs in the construction phase of the development and huge numbers of equivalent full time jobs once the hotel and casino are in operation. Do we want the wool pulled over our eyes? Are we going to be sure that we know what is meant by that full time equivalent, or are we going to allow this to be rammed through while we - should I say ewe! - sit back sheepishly and watch? Allow me to read from an anti-casino attitude to the figures put forward by the Government, referring firstly to section 19:
The Government has forecast section 19 will bring 1,400 permanent new jobs, of which 510 will be in the casino and 500 in the hotel.
Casino: An analysis, based on the experience of a former casino administrator, assumes (perhaps generously) that a 40-table casino would operate 12 hours a day, thus requiring, at best, 90 croupiers. Other staff (cashiers, bar staff etc) would total about 30 putting the total number of casino employees at around 120.
Hotel: The Canberra Hyatt with 250 rooms and five hectares of grounds employs 250 people; the Capital Parkroyal with 300 rooms will employ 220 people. Therefore, a staff-to-room ratio of somewhat less than 1:1 seems quite likely for a five-star hotel on section 19. It follows that 250 staff is a reasonable forecast.
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