Queensland Premier Annastacia Palaszczuk promised that a Labor government will contribute A$25 million for Great Keppel Island’s rejuvenation, although there was no mention of the potential construction of a boutique casino on the island. The Labor party is vying for a second term at the upcoming state election on November 25, 2017.
Ms. Palaszczuk said earlier today during her visit of the newly opened Cairns Aquarium that a Labor-led legislature will invest A$134 million in multiple Great Barrier Reef tourism projects as well as for recovery of all the islands battered by Cyclone Debbie.
Queensland’s highest ranking official went on to say that the state’s tourism industry is worth A$25 billion and employs more than 200,000 people, and that the launch of further tourism projects is particularly important to her administration. Ms. Palaszczuk’s comments came shortly after one of Labor’s main competitors in the upcoming election, the Liberal National Party, pledged A$300 million investment into improvement of the Sunshine Coast rail services.
Late last week, state Treasurer Curtis Pitt announced the Global Tourism Hub project for the Cairns waterfront. The government is currently looking for developers who would be interested to assume work on the ambitious project that would include casino, among multiple other facilities. A formal expression of interest process is expected to be launched in the coming weeks.
While support for a new casino in Cairns has been affirmed by Labor officials, the party is yet to comment on the long-time proposal for the construction of a boutique casino on Great Keppel Island.
The Great Keppel Island Casino Plan and Who Supports It
It has been for several years now that developer Tower Holdings has been looking to build an integrated resort on the island. However, the company has pointed out that the addition of a boutique casino was instrumental as it would help it secure the necessary financing for the whole project. The developer wants to operate a small-scale gambling venue with table games that would attract high roller players from the Asia-Pacific region.
Tower Holdings needs approval from the Queensland government and to be issued a casino license in order to be able to run gaming operations at its resort.
Two of the parties that will be competing at the upcoming election have already pledged support for the casino plan. Last month, Sen. Pauline Hanson confirmed that her One Nation Party will back the construction of a casino on the island, if it wins the upcoming state election. Liberal National Party leaders have too expressed support for the project in a bid to win the marginal electorate of Great Keppel Island.
Great Keppel is the largest of the Keppel group of islands and occupies an area of over 14 square kilometers. The island is located 15 kilometers away from the Central Queensland coast.
