Tasmanian casino referendum, 1968
Encyclopedia
The Tasmanian casino referendum was a one-question referendum
held on 14 December 1968, which concerned the granting of Australia
's first casino
licence to the Federal Group
to operate the Wrest Point Hotel Casino
in Sandy Bay
.
about the prospect of the Tasmanian government
granting a licence to operate a casino
on the premises, citing that the casino would attract tourists during Tasmania's traditional winter "tourist slump". Reece agreed that a casino would be a tourism attraction in Tasmania, but as no casino licence had been granted in Australia before, the government called for a referendum to gauge public support for the issue.
The Wrest Point Hotel Casino
was completed and opened in 1973.
Referendum
A referendum is a direct vote in which an entire electorate is asked to either accept or reject a particular proposal. This may result in the adoption of a new constitution, a constitutional amendment, a law, the recall of an elected official or simply a specific government policy. It is a form of...
held on 14 December 1968, which concerned the granting of Australia
Australia
Australia , officially the Commonwealth of Australia, is a country in the Southern Hemisphere comprising the mainland of the Australian continent, the island of Tasmania, and numerous smaller islands in the Indian and Pacific Oceans. It is the world's sixth-largest country by total area...
's first casino
Casino
In modern English, a casino is a facility which houses and accommodates certain types of gambling activities. Casinos are most commonly built near or combined with hotels, restaurants, retail shopping, cruise ships or other tourist attractions...
licence to the Federal Group
Federal Group
The Federal Group owns and operates tourism, entertainment and gaming businesses in Tasmania. It is also known as either Federal Hotels, or Federal Hotels and Resorts on websites.-History:...
to operate the Wrest Point Hotel Casino
Wrest Point Hotel Casino
The Wrest Point Hotel Casino was Australia's first legal casino, opening in the suburb of Sandy Bay in Hobart, Tasmania, on 10 February 1973.-History:...
in Sandy Bay
Sandy Bay, Tasmania
Sandy Bay is a suburb of the city of Hobart, Tasmania, Australia, located immediately south of the central business district.The suburb is home to many large homes, and adjoins the waterfront Salamanca area and Battery Point. The suburb is known as one of the city's prestigious areas...
.
Background
The Wrest Point Riviera hotel was purchased by the Federal Group in the 1960s, and the new owners approached Premier Eric ReeceEric Reece
Eric Elliott Reece, AC was Premier of Tasmania on two occasions: from 26 August 1958 to 26 May 1969, and from 3 May 1972 to 31 March 1975.-Biography:...
about the prospect of the Tasmanian government
Government of Tasmania
The form of the Government of Tasmania is prescribed in its Constitution, which dates from 1856, although it has been amended many times since then...
granting a licence to operate a casino
Casino
In modern English, a casino is a facility which houses and accommodates certain types of gambling activities. Casinos are most commonly built near or combined with hotels, restaurants, retail shopping, cruise ships or other tourist attractions...
on the premises, citing that the casino would attract tourists during Tasmania's traditional winter "tourist slump". Reece agreed that a casino would be a tourism attraction in Tasmania, but as no casino licence had been granted in Australia before, the government called for a referendum to gauge public support for the issue.
Results
| Seat | Enrolled | Valid votes | Yes | No |
| Bass Division of Bass (state) The Electoral Division of Bass is one of the 5 electorates in the Tasmanian House of Assembly, or lower house; it takes its name from the British Naval Surgeon and Explorer of Australia: George Bass. The division shares its name and boundaries with the federal division of Bass... |
40,472 | 34,989 (86.45%) | 16,622 (47.51%) | 18,367 (52.49%) |
| Braddon Division of Braddon (state) The Electoral Division of Braddon, Tasmania is one of the 5 electorates in the Tasmanian House of Assembly. The constituency takes its name from the former Premier of Tasmania, Sir Edward Braddon. Prior to 1955, the electorate was known as Darwin. The boundaries and name of the electorate are... |
42,420 | 37,189 (87.67%) | 18,453 (49.62%) | 18,736 (50.38%) |
| Denison Division of Denison (state) The Electoral Division of Denison is one of the 5 electorates in the Tasmanian House of Assembly. The division is named after Sir William Denison, who was Lieutenant Governor of Van_Diemen's Land 1847-55, and Governor of New South Wales 1855-61. The division shares its name and boundaries with the... |
43,529 | 38,814 (89.17%) | 22,407 (57.73%) | 16,407 (42.27%) |
| Franklin Division of Franklin (state) The Electoral Division of Franklin is one of the five electorates in the Tasmanian House of Assembly. The division is named after Sir John Franklin, the arctic explorer who was Lieutenant-Governor of Van Diemen's Land 1837-43... |
38,248 | 34,838 (91.08%) | 20,856 (59.87%) | 13,982 (40.13%) |
| Wilmot Division of Wilmot The Division of Wilmot was an Australian Electoral Division in the state of Tasmania. It was located in central Tasmania, and was named after Sir John Eardley-Wilmot, the sixth Lieutenant-Governor of Tasmania... |
41,475 | 36,871 (88.90%) | 18,501 (50.18%) | 18,370 (49.82%) |
| Total | 206,144 | 182,701 | 96,839 (53.00%) | 85,862 (47.00%) |
Aftermath
The referendum passed by a margin of 6%, and the Wrest Point Casino Licence and Development Bill 1968 was passed in October that year, granting the licence to the Federal Group. There was considerable opposition to the casino, and concern over the fact that a monopoly licence was awarded to Federal Hotels without any call for a tender.The Wrest Point Hotel Casino
Wrest Point Hotel Casino
The Wrest Point Hotel Casino was Australia's first legal casino, opening in the suburb of Sandy Bay in Hobart, Tasmania, on 10 February 1973.-History:...
was completed and opened in 1973.