McLindon pushes to turn Cairns into ‘AusVegas’
Aidan McLindon, Queensland MP, has announced that he will push through with his plan of turning Cairns into Australia's Las Vegas, despite the city mayor's rejection of the plan.
Mr. McLindon, who left the Liberal National Party several weeks ago, has disclosed in a national conference that his plan for Cairns could revitalise the city, despite the mayor's concerns about establishing a "sin city" afflicted with gambling addiction and other similar social troubles.
Mr. McLindon has stated in the Tourism Futures congress in Brisbane that all gambling machines from all of Queensland's cities and towns should be collected and assembled as the new "AusVegas" in Cairns.
"I think it would be wise of Mayor Val Schier to balance up the idea and what it would bring to the economy and the whole Cairns region," he announced.
"I'll be travelling to Cairns in the next few days and will be asking for a meeting with Ms Schier to discuss the concept in detail.
"A three billion dollar theme park was flagged for Cairns only a year ago, and a $240 million Cultural Centre Precinct is now in limbo.
"Cairns can only keep knocking back these things for so long before they get shut off from reality.
"All the money's being channelled to southeast Queensland and this could be their opportunity to make an informed decision instead of just throwing up a brick wall."
Mr. McLindon claimed that the potential of Cairns was not being fully utilized.
He also denied that the "Ausvegas" plans would churn out a "sin city".