Sydney Morning Herald – James Packer’s casino has the green light after the NSW Parliament passed legislation approving VIP-only gambling at the proposed $1.3 billion hotel complex at Barangaroo.
The legislation passed through the upper house at lunchtime on Monday with the support of Labor and opposed only by the NSW Greens and Christian Democrats who voted against it.
Premier Barry O’Farrell recently announced that cabinet had entered into a “binding agreement” with Crown to develop the “VIP-restricted gaming facility”.
The Independent Liquor and Gaming Authority will still need to consider whether Mr Packer’s company is a suitable casino operator and the proposed six-star hotel resort will need planning approval.
It is expected that Crown is unlikely to have difficulty proving to NSW authorities it is a fit and proper operator of gambling facilities, having passed a probity test in May to increase its stake in rival Echo Entertainment, owner of the Star casino.
NSW Greens MP John Kaye said Labor had collaborated with the Coalition government to ensure NSW had a second casino “despite the damage it will do to problem gamblers and despite this matter never being debated at the previous election”.
