Chinese billionaire Tony Fung's plans for a A$4.2bn (US$3.8bn) hotel and casino project in Australia is being fast-tracked for approval by the Australian government.

The Aquis Resort at the Great Barrier Reef resort complex, which is currently under consideration by the northeastern state of Queensland, would include an "international class" casino, nine luxury hotels with a total 3,750 rooms, and one of the largest aquariums in the world.

Fung, a billionaire son of one of the founders of Hong Kong conglomerate Sun Hung Kai and Company, is planning to build the integrated resort 13km north of Cairns.

The proposed casino will target wealthy Chinese tourists and operate 750 tables and 1,500 machines, which is slightly bigger than Australian billionaire James Packer's Crown casino in Melbourne.

Aquis is expected to employ 10,000 people once operational in 2018, and will create 9,300 construction jobs.