Daniel Andrews doesn’t take the gamble on James Packer ‘offer’

DANIEL Andrews has moved to distance himself from an offer he apparently can refuse — the unqualified support of James Packer.

VICTORIAN Labor leader Daniel Andrews has moved to distance himself from an offer he apparently can refuse — the unqualified support of Crown casino owner James Packer during the campaign for the November 29 state election.

Crown casino founder Lloyd Williams, a Packer confidant and prominent racing identity, has been recorded offering Mr Andrews the full measure of Packer campaign influence, declaring the billionaire is going to “kick every goal he can for you’’. An embarrassed Mr Andrews later described Mr Packer as a friend. The conversation with Mr Williams was above board and he had not received any advice from Mr Packer in the lead-up to the election.

“I’ve been very clear to you, I’ve known James Packer for years,’’ the Labor leader said. “And you’d have to speak to him about any further details on that (his support).’’

Mr Williams’s offer came during a visit by Mr Andrews to his Victoria horse stud. Apparently unaware he was being recorded, Mr Williams said to Mr Andrews: “You should probably know I am the executor of the Packer estate and James is going to kick every goal he can for you.”

Mr Williams has owned four Melbourne Cup winners and has heavily fancied Fawkner in today’s race.

Labor viewed the gaffe as “a mixed blessing’’. It shows Mr ­Andrews appears to have the blessing of Australia’s richest family but it may muddy his reputation among sections of the Left.

Greens MP Greg Barber said the Williams-Andrews conversation exposed how the Packers played both sides of politics. “James Packer is betting (with) a double-headed coin at this election,’’ he told The Australian.

Mr Williams was backed by the former Kennett government when the main casino complex was built by him in the late 1990s.

The new Williams offer comes after nearly a year of wrangling ­between Crown and Denis Napthine’s government, which started when the Coalition tried to impose an individual pokies tax of $22,715 in December last year. This would have cost the company nearly $60 million a year but instead the government forced Crown to pay a $250m fee this month plus other highly lucrative concessions to ­secure its 2050 Melbourne casino licence extension.

Victorian Interchurch Gambling Taskforce chairman Mark Zirnsak said Mr Williams’s comments underpinned the strength of gambling companies.

Mr Williams was recorded making the offer of support by the Ten Network during an election campaign function.

Mr Andrews denied that Labor’s support for legislation ­enabling the extension of the ­casino licence had come at a price.

Mr Williams is a close and trusted member of the Packer inner sanctum. He cut ties with the casino in 1999. Neither Mr Williams nor Mr Packer would comment.

In 1999 Labor stormed into office after relentlessly tearing apart Mr Williams and his then partner Ron Walker over the casino deal with the Kennett government.

Then, in the last days of the Kennett government, Kerry Packer’s Publishing and Broadcasting Limited donated $100,000 to Victorian Labor, in what was seen as a bid to woo the ALP.

Business Spectator reported yesterday that Crown had a week to pay the Napthine government $250m to secure its 2050 casino ­licence extension. After a long round of negotiations, Crown Resorts agreed to make a series of upfront payments to the government in exchange for the 17-year extension, with changes to the Melbourne casino licence taking effect from yesterday.

The gaming group also agreed to make a payment of at least $100m in 2023 if normalised gaming revenue grew by more than 4 per cent a year. Mr Williams’ comments left Liberals unimpressed, delivered as they were on the start of the final run to the election. Dr Napthine told ABC Radio: “I’m not interested in picking up the phone and talking to James Packer.”