[Greens-Media] Casino wars descends into farce

[John Kaye]

Casino wars descends into farce

Media release: 23 June 2013

Premier Barry O'Farrell should immediately release the bids of both
contestants in Sydney's casino wars after Star's owner Echo has launched a
public relations campaign to bolster its case for a continued monopoly,
according to Greens NSW MP John Kaye.

Dr Kaye said: "The contest between Star and Crown to dominate Sydney's
casino gambling industry has descended into high farce.

"It is now a case of a competition between two fantasy plans with Echo
upping the ante by promising all manner of bright trinkets for Sydney.

"No one should be confident that, in the unlikely event that Echo wins, the
Star's development will look anything like the spin emerging from the
company's media campaign.

"For Echo, this is about manipulating public opinion to spook Barry
O'Farrell out of his infatuation with James Packer's Barangaroo plan.

"The bids of both gaming corporations should be put into the public domain
so that voters can cut through the gloss and assess for themselves the real
impacts on problem gambling, corruption and public open space.

"The case for no expansion of any casino operations is now completely
excluded by the high pressure sales tactics of Echo and James Packer.

"While the public is fed the spin, Barry O'Farrell's hand-picked team is
conducting the real assessment behind closed doors.

"The community has to live with whatever decision emerges yet they are left
to sort through claims and counter-claims of employment and economic
benefits and entertainment options. Both bids will add to gambling
problems, alienate open space and increase NSW's vulnerability to
corruption.

"This started as a behind-closed-doors assessment of a bid to develop what
was supposed to be a high roller room facility in an international hotel.
It has now become a contest between two giant gaming corporations to change
the face of gambling in Sydney.

"The Premier has become captive of the gaming tycoons and is ignoring the
impacts of increased gambling.

"The O'Farrell government should abandon its unsolicited proposals process,
release both bids and allow them to be assessed against the no-expansion
option with the benefits of full public participation," Dr Kaye said.

For more information: John Kaye 0407 195 455

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John Kaye
Greens NSW MP
phone: 0407 195 455
web: www.john.nsw.greens.org.au
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