Queensland Government defers licence suspension until December 20 pending NSW inquiry findings

The Queensland Government has taken new action on the licence of Star Entertainment Group as the company’s future operations remain on the line in NSW.

The Star Entertainment Group has been granted a stay on a ruinous licence suspension, with the Queensland Government issuing a new deferral on a 90-day ban.

The Star’s operations in Brisbane and the Gold Coast were originally set to cop a 90-day suspension from December 1 last year, but that was deferred until May 31 this year.

In a statement to the ASX this morning, chairwoman Anne Ward said the Government had deferred the punishment again, granting a new deferral to December 20.

Exterior image of The Star casino on the Gold Coast

“The Star has been advised that this will allow the Queensland Government to consider the outcomes of the Second Bell Inquiry into The Star in New South Wales and to better assess The Star’s remediation progress, before making further decisions,” the statement said.

The casino giant has been battling to prove its suitability to regain its licence in New South Wales, after an earlier inquiry, also by Adam Bell SC, concluded it had set up an “inherently deceptive and unethical process”.

The inquiry has heard evidence that Star was still falling short in many areas.

This included a widespread practice of falsifying records of interactions between customer service staff and gamblers and malfunctioning cash machines that allowed customers to defraud Star of millions of dollars.

A statement from Attorney-General Yvette D’Ath said the move would not prevent the Government from taking earlier action on The Star if needed.

“The decision to defer the licence suspensions will not impact the Government’s capacity to take any action should the second Bell Inquiry make serious and adverse findings against the company or if The Star doesn’t meet its remediation obligations,” she said.

Former Star Casino CEO Robbie Cooke. Picture: David Clark

Star have argued the departure of former chief executive Robbie Cooke and chairman David Foster, whose conduct towards the regulator was described as ‘deplorable’, represented an opportunity for the company to present a new face to the NSW independent Casino Commission (NICC).

The Star has had an exodus of leaders in recent months, including its Gold Coast CEO Jessica Mellor.

The Star was trading at 46c on Friday morning.