Page 1841 - Week 06 - Wednesday, 1 May 1991
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Interested consortia are being advised that the Government will consider only proposals that will involve a major construction component. In this regard, the Government will also take into account premiums offered by consortia for the casino licence which will, consistent with previous undertakings, be used for the construction of community facilities.
The two-stage selection process will be utilised, with a preliminary submission stage being followed by a design and financial submission stage for short-listed consortia. Invitations to register interest will be issued in major Australian newspapers on Saturday next, 4 May, and it is the Government's intention to complete the selection process by 1 December 1991, including the finance and design assessment and Casino Surveillance Authority recommendations.
The expression of interest document will note that under current planning policies a casino is permitted only in the area bounded by London Circuit and Vernon Circle. Notwithstanding this, consideration will be given to substantial proposals for the establishment of a casino in other areas of the Territory. Development conditions will be established for each proposal short-listed, depending on the location of the site and the nature of the proposed development.
The Government has also considered the question of an interim casino and, given the delay in establishing Canberra's permanent casino in the current economic climate, it has decided to consider the possible establishment of an interim casino. The Government is of the view that a professionally operated and rigorously controlled interim casino will provide both a lift in Territory tax revenue and the opportunity to establish a position in the casino market, pending the opening of the permanent casino. A temporary casino licence will be issued only to the successful tenderer for the permanent casino.
In conclusion, I must stress the Government's continued commitment to the establishment of a casino in the Territory, and I would ask the Assembly, the community, the media and business leaders to support the Government's efforts to bring this important project to a successful completion. Indeed, I ask even the Opposition to get off their hobbyhorse and support it. Mr Speaker, I table the following paper:
Canberra Casino Project - Ministerial statement, 1 May 1991.
Motion (by Mr Berry), by leave, proposed:
That the Assembly takes note of the paper.
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