ASF Consortium, the company which stands behind a Gold Coast casino plan estimated to $3 billion and which was unexpectedly eliminated by the Palaszczuk Government from the project, revealed that it could take legal action.
According to the company’s director Louis Chien, Premier Annastacia Palaszczuk had misled ASF Consortium. A few days ago, the Premier decided to cease plans of the multi-billion casino project three years after the Chinese-backed company was chosen by the Government to develop The Spit.
Earlier this week, the Labor Government of Premier Palaszczuk eliminated the Group from the proposed Gold Coast casino and integrated resort. At the same time, it did not fully close the door for a new development contract in terms of The Spit. Despite that ASF Group suffered a serious blow by the announcement, the decision announced by Premier Palaszczuk is believed to seriously boost the positions of The Star Group, which currently owns the only casino on the Gold Coast and the Treasury Casino in Brisbane.
As being the preferred developer of the casino and integrated resort project, ASF Group had made plans to build casino and hotel, but has now been unfortunately suspended from proceeding further with its construction plans.
Mr. Chien did not confirm the company’s next move, but said that anything is possible, including legal action. The ASF Group’s director said there was a meeting between representatives of the company and the State Development Minister Anthony Lynham only an hour before the Premier’s announcement to be made.
At the time when Minister Lynham commented on the Government’s decision, he shared that ASF was clearly disappointed, but at the same time it had been fully aware of the fact that the contract could be terminated by the Government at any stage of the project. Mr. Chien explained there was no reason for the termination.
He failed to provide more detailed information when asked about the company’s expenditures related to the proposal’s development. Still, he highlighted the fact that 4,500 temporary construction jobs as well as additional 8,500 operational positions would have been created under the project. He insisted that the company had been misled by the Premier, blaming the Government for turning its back on its own consultation result which would have ended up with a very important project.
As explained by Premier Palaszczuk, the decision to eliminate ASF Group from the project was made as the local community had expressed its willingness to have the parkland site preserved. She compared The Spit to New York’s Central Park and said it should be preserved for generations. The Premier also cited potential transport issues that could result from the casino and integrated resort development as another reason for the project to be stopped.
Ms. Palaszczuk, however, refused to provide more information if the Chinese-backed consortium was expected to get compensation. She also explained she was fully aware that her decision was to yet bring her negative feedback.
- Author
Daniel Williams
