Queen's Wharf Brisbane Bill 2015
Plain English Summary
Overview
This bill creates the legal framework for the Queen's Wharf Brisbane casino and entertainment precinct on state-owned land in the CBD. It ratifies a 99-year casino agreement with the Destination Brisbane Consortium, exempts the precinct from parts of Queensland's property, tenancy and planning laws, and introduces tight probity controls over who can own or influence the casino.
Who it affects
Brisbane residents, workers and visitors will see the CBD riverfront redeveloped with a new casino, hotels, restaurants and public space, while the casino operator and its shareholders face strict ownership and suitability rules. Tenants and businesses leasing land within the precinct will not be covered by Queensland's standard residential and retail tenancy laws.
Queen's Wharf casino licence
Enacts a proposed casino agreement as law, including a 99-year casino licence for the new precinct with 25 years of geographical exclusivity in central Brisbane. It also allows a casino licence to be granted on conditions, and clarifies the Treasury casino definition so it is not confused with the new Queen's Wharf casino.
- 99-year casino licence with 25 years of exclusivity in central Brisbane
- Casino agreement is approved by regulation and then has effect as law
- A casino licence can now be granted subject to conditions
- The Treasury casino definition is tied to specific lots to distinguish it from Queen's Wharf
Casino ownership and probity
Anyone wanting to hold voting power, non-voting interests or convertible securities above set thresholds in the casino licensee or related holding entities must get prior approval from the Minister or Cabinet, after a suitability investigation. Cabinet can direct people to take remedial action or dispose of all their interests if they fail to comply or are found unsuitable.
- Prior approval needed for voting power above 5%, 10% and 20% in the casino licensee and related entities
- Cabinet can order disposal of interests within 2 months, with penalties up to 200 penalty units for non-compliance
- Beneficial ownership tracing regime for entities not covered by the Corporations Act
- New offences for failing to sign accession deeds or notify the Minister of large holdings (up to 40 penalty units)
Property and tenancy law exemptions
Leases within the Queen's Wharf precinct are exempted from parts of the Property Law Act, the Residential Tenancies and Rooming Accommodation Act and the Retail Shop Leases Act, and the Land Act is modified so ministerial approval is not needed for many sublease dealings. The state can also grant and lease land under a streamlined process.
- Queen's Wharf leases are not residential tenancy agreements or retail shop leases
- Ministerial approval removed for granting, transferring or amending subleases of the state headlease
- Streamlined process for the state to take land in fee simple or by lease, with compensation through the Acquisition of Land Act
- Public thoroughfare easements can be registered so the state is not responsible for maintaining them
Planning law (PDA-associated development)
Amends the Economic Development Act so Economic Development Queensland can declare development outside a Priority Development Area to be 'PDA-associated development' and approve it, instead of splitting approvals between planning bodies. This is principally designed to cover the proposed pedestrian bridge from Queen's Wharf to South Bank.
- MEDQ can declare and approve infrastructure outside PDAs that supports a PDA
- Single assessment path for the Queen's Wharf pedestrian bridge to South Bank
- Consultation with affected councils and government entities required before declaration
- Public notification still required where declared development is PDA assessable
Casino regulation changes (all Queensland casinos)
Allows all Queensland casino operators to extend credit and accept credit card deposits from non-Queensland resident junket gamblers, and removes ordinary trading hour and lockout restrictions for premises holding a commercial special facility casino licence.
- Credit and credit card deposits allowed for non-Queensland junket participants
- Debit card deposits to casino player accounts expressly permitted
- Ordinary trading hours (10am-midnight) and Safe Night lockout rules don't apply to casino special facility licences
- Casino operators must give the chief executive a floor plan and CCTV diagram before opening
Bill Journey
Committee report tabled
Referenced Entities
Legislation
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Sectors Affected
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