Perth regulator’s chair lacks training for gaming role

Duncan Ord also said there were no training processes in place for the regulator’s chief casino officer.

Duncan Ord. Picture: Colin Murty

The chair of Western Australia’s Gaming and Wagering Commission — the government body in charge of regulating Perth’s Crown Casino when Asian junket operators were allegedly laundering hundreds of millions of dollars through the venue — has been grilled at length over his lack of experience in casino regulation and the dearth of specialist training for key personnel.

Duncan Ord, who has been the chairman of the GWC and the director general of the Department of Local Government, Sport and Cultural Industries since it was formed out of a departmental amalgamation in 2017, on Monday became the first witness to be questioned in WA’s royal commission into the Perth casino.

Mr Ord had a background in arts administration before starting his career in the government bureaucracy and had been an acting director-general of WA’s Department of Planning for five months in 2013-14.

Senior Counsel Assisting the Commission, Patricia Cahill SC, asked Mr Ord if he had taken any training or education on discharging the functions of government regulation, casino regulation or casino operations when he assumed the chair.

“No, I didn’t undertake further education on regulatory practice at that time or subsequently,” he said.

He also said there were no processes in place for similar training for the chief casino officer, who had responsibilities including granting or refusing licences, and approving key casino staff members.

The chief casino officer role had been filled by deputy director-general Mick Connolly until February, when it emerged he had longstanding friendships with staff from Crown Perth’s legal and compliance team.

Mr Connolly stood down from the role but remains a deputy director-general and is now responsible for leading the implementation of the government’s banned drinkers register.

Mr Owen said Mr Connolly had decided to step down from the chief casino officer role after media coverage made his position untenable.

Mr Owen said there were no requirements for the chief casino officer to carry out any formal training for the job, even if they did not have any previous experience in or knowledge of casino regulations.

He told the commission there was a question of whether there was appropriate training available within WA or Australia.

“There are international courses now in casino gaming regulation … but these things are really emerging,” Mr Owen said.

The first part of WA’s casino royal commission is investigating the state’s regulatory framework and the capabilities and effectiveness of the Gaming and Wagering Commission.