Should the Govt's Sky City convention centre deal be reviewed?

8:54 AM Thursday Apr 19, 2012

SkyCity's proposed national convention centre.

The increase in pokie machine numbers at SkyCity, should its international convention centre deal with the Government go ahead, will effectively reverse two years of declines in machine numbers nationwide under councils' sinking lid policies, Prime Minister John Key says.

Public watchdog the Auditor-General will this afternoon release a report on how SkyCity's offer to build an international convention centre at its downtown Auckland site in return for gambling law changes was selected by the Government over rival bids.

SkyCity is understood to be seeking law changes allowing 300 to 500 additional pokie machines and wider use of technology which would increase gambling revenue in return for building the $350 million facility at no cost to the taxpayer.

Should the Govt's Sky City convention centre deal be reviewed? Here is the latest selection of Your Views:

Juggernaut (Manawatu-Whanganui) | 09:29AM Thursday, 19 Apr 2012

It definitely needs to be reviewed. I can't believe Key has the audacity to approach large corporates with the intent of selling legislation.
Hold on. It's Key we're talking about. Yeah I can believe it.

'thats life' (West Auckland) | 09:29AM Thursday, 19 Apr 2012

"Last night Economic Development Minister Steven Joyce corrected a previous statement that he had not met SkyCity officials for five months.
A spokeswoman for Mr Joyce, whose ministry officials are negotiating the deal, said he had met Mr McGeoch last Friday at the Australia New Zealand Leadership Forum in Sydney."

Do we allow backroom deals? But wait there's more.

HardWorkingCapitalist () | 09:29AM Thursday, 19 Apr 2012

No, why should it. Pokies do not cause gambling problems. I do not go to sky city to gamble or to do much for that matter. Just because sky city builds a convention centre with a few hundred more pokie machines doesnt mean I will suddenly be drawn to the place.

This is a good chance for auckland/nz to have a state of the art convention centre, more jobs, and taxes from gambling to flow back to the govt.
Labour wants to can this so the 1000 or so people will remain on the benefit, this way, labour can have a bigger voting base.

Labour is clutching at straws, Shearers credibility isnt enhanced by his constant mudslinging - I put my bet that this will bite labour more in the backside than national.