VIC: Opposition wins release of casino documents

AAP General News (Australia)
12-01-1998
VIC: Opposition wins release of casino documents

MELBOURNE, Dec 1 AAP - A Victorian tribunal has ordered the release of documents containing
financial information about competing bids for Melbournes Casino sent to the state government
during the 1993 bidding process.

The decision in the Victorian Civil and Administrative Tribunal (VCAT) is the culmination
of a four-year legal battle by the state opposition for access to the documents.

VCAT vice-president Tim Wood ordered the release of 21 of the more than 30 documents
sought, refusing to release only documents prepared for cabinet briefing and covered by
cabinet privilege.

He also ordered the release of cover sheets and covering letters for six of the exempt
documents.

In his written decision, Judge Wood said he had ordered the documents be released in the
public interest.

Opposition gaming spokesman Rob Hulls had requested under freedom of information laws all
documents provided during the bidding process to the premier, the treasurer, and the gaming
minister by the then Victorian Casino Control Authority which contained financial information
regarding bids for the casino licence extracted from submissions lodged by the applicants.

Premier Jeff Kennett and Treasurer Alan Stockdale have maintained they did not know details
of the competing bids before Crown Casino was announced as the successful bidder in September
1993.

Judge Wood gave the Department of Premier and Cabinet and the Department of Treasury and
Finance 28 days to release the documents.

AAP kmh/sp/jlw

KEYWORD: CASINO DOCUMENTS

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