Page 1534 - Week 05 - Thursday, 18 April 1991
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Casino Project
MR CONNOLLY: My question is to Mr Kaine. Would Mr Kaine agree that the failure of the ACT casino project is of significant benefit to his Liberal colleague in New South Wales who has announced that two casinos are to proceed in Sydney? Can the Chief Minister inform the Assembly of any discussions he had with the Premier of New South Wales regarding the prospects of a Canberra casino while at the constitutional conference the week before last?
MR KAINE: I will answer the last part first. I have not had any discussions with Mr Greiner on the question of a casino in the ACT because, quite frankly, it is none of his business. I did not ask him what he is doing about his either; that is his business. I do not know that it will be of great benefit for New South Wales or for anybody else that - - -
Members interjected.
MR KAINE: I have heard a lot of people in the ACT over the last year saying that the - - -
Members interjected.
MR KAINE: Again, Mr Speaker, I am prepared to sit down if somebody else wants to carry on a discussion.
MR SPEAKER: Order, members, please!
MR KAINE: I am prepared to answer the question or not. I do not care one way or the other.
It has been interesting that there has been a continuing debate over the last year on the merits of a casino in Canberra. There is, surprisingly, a point of view that says that the casino is not going to be a goldmine for the ACT; that it will be an increment in terms of the tourism attractions in Canberra. It is not going to be a Hong Kong style casino. I do not think that was ever intended. It was always proposed, as I understand it, to be a fairly small operation.
I do not see that that kind of operation is a threat to anybody. I do not see anybody in Wrest Point, the Northern Territory or Adelaide closing down their casinos because we are going to get into competition with them. I do not think it will worry the New South Wales Government one way or another whether we have a casino or whether we do not.
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