Western Australia’s government has unveiled details of a royal commission into Crown Perth’s suitability to continue operating its Burswood casino.
It comes after a bombshell NSW report into the company’s operations found Crown was not suitable to hold the licence for a Sydney casino because it had facilitated money laundering through bank accounts held by subsidiaries.
The WA royal commission will be headed by former Supreme Court justices Neville Owen and Lindy Jenkins and former WA auditor-general Colin Murphy.
It is expected to deliver an interim report by June 30 and a final report with findings and recommendations by November 14.
The McGowan government, which is in caretaker mode ahead of the March 13 election, had previously flagged an inquiry with the powers of a royal commission.
Racing and Gaming Minister Paul Papalia said it was recommended that a royal commission instead be held “to provide appropriate protections” for the commissioners and witnesses.
“The royal commission will provide the next state government with a thorough and independent examination of the suitability of Crown Perth to hold a casino licence following the Bergin Inquiry’s findings of suspected money laundering and junkets linked to organised crime,” he said on Friday.
“The commission will also closely examine the state’s current regulatory framework, the functions of the Gaming and Wagering Commission and provide recommendations for enhancing future regulatory capabilities and effectiveness.”
On Monday, Perth businessman John Poynton became the fifth director to resign from Crown’s board in recent weeks.
Crown’s chief executive Ken Barton stepped down in February after NSW commissioner Patricia Bergin’s damning report into the company.
Mr Papalia said the Gaming and Wagering Commission had already directed Crown to no longer hold junkets and to obtain the commission’s approval to establish gaming bank accounts to prevent any further wrongdoing.
“The state’s regulators have also formed working groups with their eastern state’s counterparts to ensure consistence for any future regulatory reform,” he said.
Victoria launched its own royal commission in February into the gaming giant’s suitability to run its Southbank casino.
Premier Daniel Andrews said he was prepared to rip up Crown’s casino licence if recommended by the commission.
-AAP
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