Call for extended Queensland probe into gambling

The inquiry into the Queensland operations of Star Entertainment will consider the NSW report into the casino giant but does not have powers to make similar findings.

Star Entertainment interim chief executive Geoff Hogg. Picture: Liam Kidston

The inquiry into the Queensland operations of Star Entertainment will consider the NSW report into the casino giant but does not have powers to make similar findings into its suitability to hold a casino ­licence.

The Queensland hearings, which lasted just five days, were told that many of the problems at Star’s Sydney operations existed across the border at its Brisbane and Gold Coast casinos.

Star Entertainment interim chief executive Geoff Hogg admitted at the hearings that the company failed for years to ban suspicious high-rollers from its Queensland casinos, despite one having alleged links to the Sicilian mafia and another bringing $198,950 in wet cash in a cooler bag to the Gold Coast to bet.

The company is building the $3.6bn Queen’s Wharf resort casino in Brisbane’s CBD, in a joint venture with Hong Kong partners Chow Tai Fook and Far East Consortium.

In August, The Australian revealed Chow Tai Fook’s links to Macau gambling boss Stanley Ho and his alleged triad connections and that they were raised as a concern during the state government probity check for the Queens Wharf casino licence.

The terms of reference for the inquiry, called by Premier ­Annastacia Palaszczuk in June, gave inquiry powers – which include public hearings, sub­missions and direct questioning – to examine money laundering and allegations of other illegalities at the Star casinos in Queensland.

But the powers of the inquiry, headed by retired Court of Appeal judge Bob Gotterson, do not extend to the suitability of Star to hold a casino licence or enable him to make findings on that question in his report.

Instead, Justice Gotterson can only advise the Attorney-General’s Department about the ongoing suitability of Star holdings a casino licence.

Opposition justice spokesman Tim Nicholls said the NSW report further exposed the failings of the Queensland inquiry.

“The Attorney-General must widen the terms of reference and give Mr Gotterson the full powers of a commission of inquiry so that Queenslanders can have confidence in the casino industry and know that our state is free from any taint of illegality, money laundering, terrorism and undue political influence,’’ he said.

“The terms of reference should include inquiry into interactions between ministers, government departments, the Office of Liquor and Gaming Regulation, Star board members and consultants, lobbyists and unions.’’