Star faces further scrutiny on casinos
Current and former Star executives could be publicly grilled as part of a fresh probe into the company’s Brisbane and Gold Coast casinos.
Current and former Star executives could be publicly grilled about allegations of money laundering, unlawful Chinese gambling and dodgy high-rolling junkets as part of a fresh probe into the company’s Brisbane and Gold Coast casinos.
Queensland Attorney-General Shannon Fentiman announced on Thursday that retired Supreme Court and Court of Appeal judge Robert Gotterson would lead a review into the operations of Star’s casinos in the state.
The inquiry will have the powers of a royal commission, including the ability to interview Star employees or “other relevant persons”, hold public hearings, compel witnesses to give evidence and protect whistleblowers.
It is the latest in a string of investigations into casinos across Australia, including Star in NSW and Crown in NSW, Victoria and Western Australia.
Star’s top brass – including chief executive Matt Bekier and board chairman John O’Neill – have quit over the revelations in NSW. But their exit will not protect them from being called to give evidence before the Queensland inquiry.
Justice Gotterson will be charged with advising the attorney-general on whether Star is fit to hold casino licences in Queensland, including a licence for the $3.6bn Queen’s Wharf mega-project due to open next year in Brisbane.
The Australian revealed earlier this year that the government would order an external investigation into Star after months of resisting pressure to call an inquiry, and that Labor lobbyist Evan Moorhead had been advising Star covertly on how to engage with government.
Ms Fentiman has already hinted that even if Star was found to be unsuitable to hold casino licences in Queensland, it was unlikely the company would be punished with immediate licence cancellation and instead be issued a temporary licence and ordered to do remediation work.
Justice Gotterson’s inquiry will consider Star’s commitment to anti-money laundering and counter-terrorism financing responsibilities, management of VIP, high-roller and international patrons, and the use of ChinaPay debit cards to help facilitate gambling by Chinese nationals in contravention of Chinese law.
It will also examine the management of patrons excluded from Star’s Sydney casino, and whether they were encouraged to travel to Star’s Queensland operations, and how the company approaches minimising the harm caused by gambling.
The inquiry will report by the end of September.
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