Page 150 - Week 02 - Thursday, 25 May 1989
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When I asked why, the answer was brief: "The criminal element". No doubt there are arguments that the legislation has already been drawn up to deal with this successfully. No doubt there will be arguments about how we can further improve that legislation. There will be no money laundering going on in Canberra. There will be no more prostitution than we already have. There will be no other illegal activities associated with casinos.
I have no doubt the arguments will be presented. In fact, Mr Speaker and members of this Assembly, this is precisely why we need this committee. Over the last few days I have heard a series of responses to the Chief Minister in speeches, which Mr Humphries has dubbed maiden speeches - I hope that we can establish a non-sexist tradition by referring to them as inaugural speeches - in which person after person has talked about their own goodwill for Canberra and its people and their responsibility to those who elected us. Let us face our responsibility clearly here and establish this committee to do our best to find the facts so that we can do justice to those whom we represent.
MR KAINE (Leader of the Opposition) (10.57): The Liberals support such an inquiry. We did not agree with the original proposal that it should take six months to complete. We are of the view that either the facts are there or they are not, and if they are they can be adduced quickly and allow a decision to be made. We agree in principle that such an inquiry ought to take place.
There is clearly some concern in the community about various aspects of a casino in Canberra. I make it clear that the Liberal Party policy is in favour of a casino. It does not say anything about site, but it is in favour of a casino. It is appropriate that there be some community consultation on the question, as the mover of this motion has suggested, and that the facts of the case should be brought forward and put on the table. There has been a lot of speculation - and a lot of ill-informed speculation, I believe - about what the effects of a casino will be.
Having said that we support it, there are just one or two comments that I would like to make. I believe that too much emphasis has been placed, for example, on whether the casino itself is going to be a profit-making operation. Personally I doubt it. It may be that the figures can be brought forward that will prove that it will be. I think that we have to look at the casino not so much in terms of whether it will of itself be a profit-making concern but the addition that it makes, the increment that it will represent, in terms of things that tourists to Canberra can do.
I would suspect that even if the casino itself turns out not to be a profit maker, even if it operates at the break-even point - and that is a matter for the investors in
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