Opposition politicians in New South Wales are getting antsy to learn more about the government’s position on Crown’s proposed luxury casino in Sydney, but Premier Barry O’Farrell says they will have to wait.
One key to the fate of the A$1 billion, six-star hotel and high-roller casino, which is planned for prime real estate at the Barangaroo commercial complex on Darling Harbour, is a Deloitte report that Mr O’Farrell says will not be released until the government hears from an independent panel formed last year to assess the project and its economic potential.
The panel’s report is due at the end of April, at which point the government will make a decision, the Liberal Party leader said.
“There is a process underway [that is at] arms length, independent of government,” he told reporters recently. “Whether that decides to proceed or not proceed, reports will be released after this point. But midway through that process we’re not going to be releasing documents that endanger that process.”
The opposition generally has gone along with this, but that could be changing in the wake of a threat from shadow planning spokesman Luke Foley to withdraw the Labor Party’s support if the Deloitte report isn’t released. He also wants the government to publish its own assessment documents and the conditions of the casino’s gaming licence.
“The opposition has been very open-minded regarding the Crown proposal, but unless there is openness and transparency around this project, it will be extremely difficult for Labor to offer bipartisan support,” he said in a statement.
Greens MP John Kaye, meanwhile, is urging Labor to unconditionally cut its ties with Crown boss James Packer “and unreservedly reject the unsolicited casino proposal,” which he claims will cost the state hundreds of millions in unrealized benefits if it continues to move ahead without an opportunity for competitive bidding.
“The Barangaroo proposal has never been tested against alternatives,” he said.
