Tourism Industry Development Minister Kate Jones has today welcomed the LNP’s endorsement of the Palaszczuk Government’s policy approach to a Global Tourism Hub proposal for the Gold Coast.
“It’s great to see that the Leader of the Opposition, Deb Frecklington, has seen the light and has now endorsed our policy of a no net increase in pokies on the Gold Coast,” she said.
“Gold Coasters should not forget that it was the LNP that gave the green light to a multi-billion-dollar development on Wavebreak Island and the Spit with no policy around capping pokies for the Gold Coast community.”
“If the LNP had won the last election, this could have added an extra 1500 pokies to the Gold Coast.”
Ms Jones said the LNP had also endorsed Labor’s position that an integrated resort should only be approved through a “formal competitive process” and proponents must demonstrate that any proposal must deliver significant public benefit for the Gold Coast and the tourism industry.
“Unlike the debacle that was the LNP’s handling of ASF in 2013, we’re committed to ensuring that any proposals provide significant benefit for the tourism industry and the Gold Coast,” she said.
“In stark contrast to the LNP, the Palaszczuk Government has had a consistent position that we would not allow development of an integrated resort on the Spit and that a Global Tourism Hub would only be approved after a lengthy and thorough assessment process.”
