A-G Yvette D’Ath reported to corruption watchdog over casino policy
The opposition has reported Attorney-General Yvette D’Ath to the Crime and Corruption Commission over a casino deal.
Queensland’s corruption watchdog has been asked to probe whether state Attorney-General Yvette D’Ath made policy decisions that gave “significant commercial benefits” to gambling giant Star Entertainment after it hosted a fundraiser for her.
The Australian reported on Monday that Ms D’Ath refused to extend new rules allowing unlimited tables games at Star’s Queen’s Wharf casino in Brisbane to its rivals.
The Attorney-General regulates gaming for the Palaszczuk Labor government.
Ms D’Ath last year rejected a recommendation by senior Department of Justice officials to remove the cap on tables at all of the state’s casinos, as it had done for the under-construction $3.2bn Queen’s Wharf.
The Office of Liquor and Gaming Regulation told Ms D’Ath there should be an industry-wide policy “consistent” with the licence awarded to Star’s new casino in Brisbane.
But Ms D’Ath rejected the uniform policy and instead approved an alternative option to allow more tables at Star’s Gold Coast casino. Star’s rivals in Cairns and Townsville missed out.
She strongly denies any wrongdoing.
The “great debate” event raised thousands of dollars for Ms D’Ath and included a panel of four former Labor A-Gs.
At the time of the fundraiser, Ms D’Ath was considering approval of Star’s “masterplan” for its Gold Coast operations and Star was lobbying the state government not to proceed with plans for a rival second Gold Coast casino.
The listed gaming company hosted the event and paid for the food and alcohol.
Liberal National Party justice spokesman David Janetzki on Monday wrote to Crime and Corruption Commission chair Alan MacSporran expressing his concern about Ms D’Ath’s behaviour and asking for an investigation.
“I am writing to you with concern about the Attorney-General’s conduct in relation to a number of decisions which have resulted in significant commercial benefits for the Star Entertainment Group Limited,” Mr Janetzki wrote.
“(Right to Information) documents suggest that the Attorney-General has granted a number of approvals that are contrary to the advice of her department.
“Such decisions raise questions about the Attorney-General’s impartiality in her decision-making.
“I would ask the Crime and Corruption Commission consider an investigation to determine whether the Attorney-General has engaged in ‘corrupt conduct’ under s15 of the Crime and Corruption Act 2001.”
Ms D’Ath said she stood by all the decisions she had made, and said the Star fundraiser organised by Queensland Labor was fully declared at the time and had always been on the public record.
“I totally refute the LNP’s allegations,” Ms D’Ath said.
“It’s curious that these claims are being re-aired just days after the LNP voted against our nation-leading integrity reforms to end cash for access in Queensland politics — and not in November when it was first reported or in March when the RTI documents were released.”
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