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Gambling addicts will pay for convention centre - Greens

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Mon, 13 Jun 2011 8:41a.m.

An artist's impression of the new convention centre

An artist's impression of the new convention centre

The Greens claim that gambling addicts will effectively pay for an international convention centre, proposed for Auckland.

The Government is negotiating with SkyCity to build the $350 million complex, which is hoped to create 800 new jobs and add $90 million to the economy.

In exchange, SkyCity wants the gambling laws amended, so its casino can have more gaming machines.

Green MP Kevin Hague is outraged.

John Key is proposing that people with gambling addictions and their families will foot the bill for this new convention centre. The profits that SkyCity believes it can extract from gamblers are obviously immense.”

Labour and the Maori Party are also opposed to any law changes.

However, the Prime Minister says the deal with Skycity casino makes good economic sense.

He is rejecting criticism of the Government's proposed deal with the casino company.

Business commentator Bernard Hickey says the decision to build the complex should stand on its own merits.

“This is giving in to corporate blackmail by a listed company. Surely if this convention centre was profitable in its own right it should stand on its own two feet and not require special favours for the casino.”

The new convention centre will be built on a site close to SkyCity's existing Auckland casino.

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Comments

13 Jun 2011 05:56p.m.

Carlos wrote:

Great news !

13 Jun 2011 12:54p.m.

Bruce wrote:

It is not the gambling addicts who will pay for the casino - it will be their husbands and kids who will pay.

13 Jun 2011 11:29a.m.

braam wrote:

thank you for discriminating against gambling Greens, you are surely the people who are in a position to point fingers. I think this is a great idea, we need more of this corporate funded projects to help government build a country dilapidated by the previous government.

13 Jun 2011 11:28a.m.

Tania Langford wrote:

The effects of gambling are already immense in our country. People are losing their families, children are starving because of money going to gambling. I believe this is wrong because it will in fact making the gambling problem worse. Gambling in New Zealand is a national problem and the Government should not be encouraging it by making a contract with SkyCity. I believe this is the way the Government is trying to avoid paying the bill for the Convention Centre.

13 Jun 2011 11:27a.m.

Chris wrote:

What nonsense for the Greens and the left talk . It's faulty thinking. You cannot hold up progress for a minority of 'problem gamblers'. They need to responsible for their problems and not let offers suffer or for progress to stop. This centre will bring in millions of dollars in tourism and business and give jobs to many. With that type of thinking we might as well ban more cars coming into the country and they will kill more people on the roads. Also let’s stop selling cameras to reduce child pornography. You can't stop progress because a minority abuse the issues at hand. The Greens and Labour are just anti progress.

13 Jun 2011 10:31a.m.

Kim wrote:

800 jobs my ar$e..how many FULL time jobs..30-40? Most will be employed as part-timers.

13 Jun 2011 10:07a.m.

CORRUPTION wrote:

GOVERNMENT CORRUPTION!!

13 Jun 2011 09:43a.m.

Carlos wrote:

That's good then. Job creation in the building industry.

13 Jun 2011 09:38a.m.

number one wrote:

Key doesn't care about the kiwis, just another careless MP.

-Remember this drink age, National party deicide to lower the drink age even those the evidence showed it was a bad idea.

-National has no obligations in helping average kiwis.

13 Jun 2011 09:38a.m.

Chris wrote:

What nonsense for the Greens . It's faulty thinking. You cannot hold up progress for a minority of 'problem gamblers'. They need to responsible for their problems and not let offers suffer or for progress to stop. This centre will bring in millions of dollars in tourism and business and give jobs to many. With that type of thinking we might as well ban more cars coming into the country and they will kill more people on the roads. Also let’s stop selling cameras to reduce child pornography. You can't stop progress because a minority abuse the issues at hand. The Greens are just anti progress.