Perth Mint chairman Sam Walsh has admitted there have been “historical issues” at the West Australian institution, but says the refiner is already strengthening its governance arrangements following concerns over money laundering and the purity of its gold bars.

The former Rio Tinto chief executive said he had not previously publicly addressed the gold doping allegations because he was trying not to “interrupt the operational activities of the business”. He could not comment on an investigation launched by AUSTRAC last year due to “privacy laws” and other legal restrictions.