Calls for more checks around Brisbane casino contract
A Queensland union wants more scrutiny on awarding the next Brisbane casino licence, claiming one bidder has possible links to a business banned from seeking a casino licence in New South Wales.
Two consortia are competing for the right to build an integrated casino resort in the Queen's Wharf precinct of central Brisbane.
United Voice secretary Gary Bullock raised questions about whether Echo Entertainment's bid had links with Hong Kong businessman Stanley Ho, who was banned from a similar NSW bid.
The union suggested one of Echo's business partners for the Brisbane casino licence, Chow Tai Fook Enterprises (CTFE), could be linked to Dr Ho.
CTFE's chairman owns 10 per cent of Dr Ho's Macau casino business, the union said.
In Sydney last month Echo's rival, James Packer's Crown, secured a licence for the Barangaroo casino after assuringNSW authorities he would not deal with Dr Ho.
Mr Bullock questioned whether probity checks were being rushed in Queensland, an accusation denied by Deputy Premier Jeff Seeney, who instead questioned the union's motivations.
"We looked closely at these casino bids because we want to ensure both bidders are held to the highest standard," Mr Bullock said.
"We never imagined we would find something like this serious enough to concern three governments including NSW and the apparent willingness of the Newman Government to look the other way."
United Voice has been backed by Reverend Tim Costello.
He said the NSW Government had gone to extraordinary lengths to ban Stanley Ho from being involved in the Sydney's Barangaroo Casino proposal and Queensland should do the same.
"If the NSW Government says Stanley Ho shouldn't be associated with casino bids in that state, the Queensland Government must say why they're not worried about it here," Reverend Costello said.
Echo declined to comment.
Mr Seeney said any concern about Dr Ho in NSW would be considered in the Brisbane casino project.
"I have every confidence that every issue surrounding any of the proponents will be fully investigated and fully dealt with by the probity process which has only just begun," Mr Seeney said.
"Contact with [NSW] regulatory authorities will be part of the process."
Union praises Echo over Crown
United Voice said Echo's rival Crown had a better industrial record.
"We know from our interactions that the way the staff are dealt with at Crown is a much higher standard than Echo," Mr Bullock said.
Mr Seeney said it was a strange opinion for a union to express and raised questions about their motivation.
"It's bizarre why a union would want to involve itself in this sort of attempt to influence the process," Mr Seeney said.
"It's bizarre but it certainly won't influence the process."
Mr Seeney said authorities might ask whether Crown has a relationship with Labor.
"That will be a question that the assessment panel will certainly address I would expect, but it's not something that I'm involved in," he said.
Mr Bullock dismissed that.
"My experience is that most companies make donations to both political parties," he said.
Detailed plans from both proponents for the Brisbane casino project will be released next week.
The winning bidder would not be revealed until a probity audit had been completed, which could be mid-next year.
Mr Seeney also cautioned that two other projects in regional Queensland were not guaranteed of going ahead and face significant challenges.
A Gold Coast cruise ship terminal and casino proposed by the ASF consortium on Wavebreak Island faces design and environmental hurdles and a Cairns resort proposal by Aquis is yet to satisfy probity requirements.
