WA; PBL casino bid won't lead to reversal of pokies ban

AAP General News (Australia)
04-28-2004
WA; PBL casino bid won't lead to reversal of pokies ban

By Holly Nott

PERTH, April 28 AAP - The West Australian government said today it would not consider
reversing a ban on poker machines regardless of the outcome of Publishing & Broadcasting
Ltd's (PBL) takeover bid for Burswood casino.

Racing and Gaming Minister Nick Griffiths said he met with PBL executive chairman James
Packer and chief executive Peter Yates yesterday, ahead of the announcement of a $686
million takeover bid for Burswood Ltd, which operates Burswood International Casino Resort
in Perth.

Mr Griffiths said the subject of poker machines, which were banned in WA, was not broached
during the meeting.

But debate flared today when WA Opposition leader Colin Barnett said he was open-minded
about the introduction of poker machines.

Mr Barnett said the difference between poker machines and other electronic gaming machines
which were permitted at the casino was largely semantics.

"I would restrict any poker machine - whatever form it takes - to the casino site and
I would not support the spread of poker machines ... into hotels and clubs," he told Perth
radio 6PR.

The comments were criticised by Mr Griffiths, who said the Labor government would not
revisit its policy on poker machines, even if PBL made representations.

He said WA had a lower incidence of gambling, and fewer gambling problems because of
its approach to poker machines.

"The government's policy is clear. There are no poker machines in Burswood and there
are no electronic gaming machines ... outside of Burswood," he said.

"It is quite mischievous of Mr Barnett to be waving that prospect around.

"It seems to me Mr Barnett is trying to find new revenue measures to fund his well-documented
extravagant promises."

Mr Griffiths welcomed PBL's interest in WA but said ownership of Burswood Ltd was not
a matter for the government.

"I think whoever owns what shares in the casino is a matter for the market - subject
of cours,e to the appropriate probity tick-off," Mr Griffiths said.

"I think having a major Australian firm like PBL intending to invest in Western Australia
is a very good thing and I welcome investment such as PBL's in WA.

"At the same time however, it is not the role of government who owns what in what company."

PBL has said it would further develop Burswood into a first-class entertainment venue
which benefited the people of Perth, and generated significant international and interstate
tourism revenue.

Mr Barnett said he believed PBL's bid would succeed.

"I regret that. I think that's a loss of another West Australian business," Mr Barnett said.

AAP hn/cjh/bwl

KEYWORD: BURSWOOD GRIFFITHS

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