The Palaszczuk Government has rejected curbing casino hours in Queensland, despite it being a key recommendation of an independent review into its efforts to reduce alcohol-fuelled violence.

The recommendation was contained in the report from the final evaluation of the Governmentâs Tackling Alcohol-Fuelled Violence policy, which showed a big drop in serious assaults on Friday and Saturday nights across the state.
While hailing the policy a success and committing $500,000 to encourage late night precinct boards, the Governmentâs rejection of any curb on casino trading hours was a notable feature of its response to the report.
Casinos in the state âalready operate under a significant level of scrutinyâ and had more security than other venues, the governmentâs response said.
âThe government also considers removal of 24-hour trading hours would be inconsistent with the governmentâs plans for creating a ânew world cityâ for Brisbane, the intent of the development of Queenâs Wharf Brisbane,â the response, tabled on Wednesday said.
The government also stopped short of endorsing the reviewâs recommendation that there be an expert, publicly available evaluation of the impact of the Queens Wharf casino on alcohol-fuelled violence.
The Star Entertainment group, currently facing an inquiry over alleged money-laundering activities at its Sydney casino, is a key backer of the $3.6 billion Queenâs Wharf development.
It plans to relocated its Brisbane casino from its current location in the old Treasury building to Queens Wharf, where its gambling facility will boast up to 2500 poker machines and potentially hundreds of gaming tables.
The governmentâs position on Queens Wharf was similar to its interim response in 2019, when it said it would look at ways to engage casinos in safe night precinct management and safety.
A recommendation to close all safe night precinct venues at 3.30am was also not supported.
âThe government is not satisfied closing all late-trading venuesâŚat 3.30am, following cessation of the service of alcohol at 3.00am, would strike an appropriate regulatory balance,â it said.
Key measures of the governmentâs policy include changing liquor trading hours from 5am to 3am in safe night precincts and mandatory ID scanners for a large number of venues.
âThe report shows thereâs been a 49 per cent drop in the number of serious assaults between 3am and 6am on Friday and Saturday nights across Queensland,â Premier Annastacia Palaszczuk said.
âSignificantly, thereâs been a 52 per cent reduction in these assaults in one of the stateâs most popular precincts â Fortitude Valley.â
Speaking in parliament on Wednesday, Ms Palaszczuk reflected on the one-punch death of teenager Cole Miller in 2016.
âIt was the very definition of a cowardâs punch, Cole fell to the ground, he never regained consciousness,â Palaszczuk said.
âMore than 2000 people gathered in King George Square demanding something be done so no other family suffered such an awful lossâŚthat something was our governmentâs strategy to tackle alcohol fuelled violence.â
Millerâs brother and sister were at parliament on Wednesday.
âItâs always very upsetting to relive these eventsâŚhowever itâs also very pleasing to see some positive results from the changes that have come through,â Coleâs older brother Billy said.
Among the accepted recommendations was working to ensure a list of banned patrons is available to venues operating after midnight.
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