Page 2866 - Week 11 - Wednesday, 21 October 1992
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Casino Canberra
MR STEVENSON (4.50): I rise to read an advertisement by Gus Petersilka that was in the paper today. I thought there were some relevant points in it. It says:
MRS FOLLETT IS IT WORTH THE EFFORT.
You carried a large photo of our first lady (Ms Follett) on page two (17th this month) displaying an enlarged cheque of 19 million dollars!!! as advance payment for the casino premium.
Do the people of Canberra realise what this means? The casino operators are so convinced and sure that the people gambling in that gambling house will lose sooner or later that much money (and a handsome bit extra for the operator). It is extremely silly to believe that Visitors in Canberra will be the losers. The visitors in Canberra are not the type of holidayers you will find on the Gold Coast. They are not the ones who need or want a Casino to enjoy their staying in Canberra. The recent successes, from the Rubens exhibition to the unveiling of the Vietnam memorial, Floriade and the conventions, which have brought so many intelligent people to Canberra. Not to forget the many overseas and interstate tourists visiting Canberra. These people have demonstrated that Canberra does not need a casino ... And I can prove it.
I have provided a questionnaire to all my customers and one of the questions refers to the casino. 95 per cent expressed the opinion that Canberra does not need a Casino. Even the majority of locals are opposed to a casino. Other questions referred to video pornography and dancing in Garema Place. Our "First Lady" got us this Casino and the millions of dollars she so proudly obtained WILL, EVENTUALLY, COME MAINLY FROM THE LOCALS. Those local organisations and Traders who supported the casino will soon feel that the buying power of the locals will be dramatically reduced. Our poker machine clubs will be the first to suffer and many jobs will be lost.
Ms Follett, I would have never expected that a Labor Government would act so antisocially and exploitative of its own working class people and wage-earners.
WE MUST ASK THE QUESTIONS NOW: WHO IS BEHIND THIS CASINO? WHO ARE THE PEOPLE IN THIS CASINO ENTERPRISE? ARE THERE LOCALS IN IT? WHERE IS THE MONEY COMING FROM? WHO ARE THE FINANCIERS? WHO IS ON THE BOARD TO CONTROL THE CASINO OPERATIONS? WHO SELECTED AND ELECTED THESE PEOPLE?
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