John O’Neill and Matt Bekier to appear before Bell inquiry into The Star

John O’Neill became The Star’s executive chairman on Friday. But he is likely to expect he will not be in the job for long. Picture: AAP

John O’Neill will be called as a witness to the Bell inquiry into The Star’s Sydney casino either side of Easter – putting him to an early test in a job that he never thought he would take.

It was already the beginning of the end for O’Neill, elevated to an executive chairman role on Friday after the departure of Star Entertainment chief executive Matt Bekier at the start of the week.

After turning 70 last year, and having been The Star’s chairman for a decade, O’Neill would likely have been looking for a transition to retirement soon anyway.

O’Neill’s elevation now to what is effectively an acting CEO role is meant to be temporary, though temporary could be sooner rather than later. It all depends on how quickly a new CEO is appointed and when they clear probity hurdles and are in place at The Star’s Pyrmont headquarters – which could mean O’Neill is still at the helm by annual meeting time in late October.

But it will depends on how his appearance before the NSW government inquiry, headed by Adam Bell SC, pans out.

Bekier will also be called as a witness to the inquiry in the next couple of weeks, The Weekend Australian has learnt, and obviously there will be plenty of observers watching the performers of both he and O’Neill. After all, memories are fresh of seemingly disastrous appearances by former Crown Resorts directors Andrew Demetriou and James Packer before the NSW casino inquiry into that company in 2020.

O’Neill is likely confident his appearance later this month will not go anywhere near as badly. But there are plenty calling for his head to roll given he has been chairman when, for example, a KPMG report exposed “fundamental deficiencies” in The Star’s anti-money laundering program in 2018 and Chinese junket operator Suncity was still allowed at Star – despite flouting money-laundering controls and having known links to organised crime

Bekier’s resignation on Monday was seen as a circuit breaker and taking the reputational hit for the revelations that have come out of the Bell inquiry thus far, and The Star is keen for O’Neill not to have to do the same if he can avoid it. Or at least not until he has to.

He likely is not digging in for the long-term, and can see the writing on the wall. It just depends on what his interpretation of that writing is.

It will likely depend on what is contained in the Bell Inquiry report when it is handed down on June 30. Any recommendations have to be acted upon – and The Star has said it will – but if the report finds The Star in its current form is not fit to hold a casino licence then O’Neill will have to go.

He would realise this and knows he is not there for the long-term anyway. And so far he is said to have the support of The Star’s biggest shareholders, and will likely meet more investors next week. And if the Bell Inquiry report gives The Star the green light to continue, albeit with conditions, then look for O’Neill to stay to welcome a new CEO.

But it will also depend on Queensland authorities not launching a similar inquiry too.

O’Neill has a long and successful career in sports administration at rugby and soccer, then oversaw a turnaround in The Star’s fortunes with Bekier. He is extremely well connected in government and corporate circles.

The hope is his reputation isn’t damaged by the end of his tenure at The Star.

All eyes on his Bell inquiry appearance then.