Billionaire James Packer slams Daniel Andrews over 'appalling' Crown tax betrayal

From golfing buddies to bitter enemies, James Packer has branded former Victorian premier Daniel Andrews ‘human filth’ over their Crown casino tax dispute.

James Packer has taken aim at former Victorian premier Daniel Andrews.

Billionaire James Packer has lashed out at former Victorian premier Daniel Andrews, taking aim at the Labor politician’s economic management of the state and calling him “human filth”.

In an interview with Joe Aston’s digital news site Rampart, Packer has given a scathing assessment of Andrews, his former golfing buddy, labelling him his “least favourite person”.

Packer, who previously owned and chaired Crown Resorts, said Andrew’s sudden and unexpected tax on Crown Melbourne almost scuttled a deal that ultimately handed the gaming group to US private equity giant Blackstone.

Crown was sold to Blackstone in 2022 for $8.9bn.

Packer said Andrews had previously tried to curry favour with him while in opposition, recalling the then-opposition leader declared himself a friend of Crown and the gaming group was “great for Victoria”.

But despite this when he was premier, Packer said Andrews betrayed a key contractual clause aimed at protecting Crown from new taxes without compensation.

“With three weeks to go Daniel Andrews changes taxes on Crown and rips $50m out of Crown and gives no compensation,” Packer said.

“I thought that was appalling behaviour. I’m looking forward to seeing Daniel Andrews in person and speaking far more aggressively than I am.”

Packer, who now lives largely outside of Australia, said Andrews had also torched the Victorian state government’s balance sheet, warning the debt burden he imposed was now “impossible to fix”.

“I think he’s human filth,” he said. “I hope he sues me”.

Daniel Andrews meets Xi Jinping at a military parade in Beijing,

Packer also raised concerns about Andrews’ recent China trip, in the company of Russian president Vladimir Putin and Chinese president Xi Jinping.

“I think Xi has set China back enormously,“ Packer said.

The former Crown boss noted Australia has faced a troubled relationship with China, describing former prime minister Scott Morrison’s call for an inquiry into the Covid-19 outbreak an “outrageous” intervention.

Packer said he was so concerned he wrote to Morrison, who responded.

“It was just a completely reckless act,” Packer said.

Packer said Australia should recalibrate its approach and look to the likes of Singapore in how to manage both America and China.

“We have to be careful putting all our eggs in one American basket,” Packer said.

The now 58-year-old business figure said he was now largely removed from day-to-day decision making surrounding his wealth, tipped at $5.1bn, ranking Packer at 27th in The Australian’s The List: Australia’s Richest 250.

James Packer wrote to Scott Morrison over his calls for a Covid-19 inquiry.

Packer said he was “actively passive” in his investment outlook, warning the swelling tides of cash around the world was making it harder to strike a deal.

However, Packer is playing a role in producing a film about American president Donald Trump’s wife Melania Trump.

Packer, who has rented a house nearby Trump’s palatial estate Mar-a-Lago, paid credit to the US president.

He said Trump had been “very kind to me” noting the US president has also been a supporter of Israel and its leader Benjamin Netanyahu.

Packer noted Netanyahu was “obviously a divisive figure” but said the Israeli prime minister deserved credit for the economic performance of the state.

The close relationship between the two was subject of a graft probe, but Packer noted he’d received “legal advice” that OK’d key elements of their relationship including allowing Netanyahu to use his house.

“I owned five houses around the world and the house I owned next to Bibi was the cheapest to run, it was the most interesting, and it was the most fun by far,” he said.

“I’m a generous guy, I like being generous.”

But Packer noted the controversy surrounding Israel’s involvement in Gaza.

“What’s happening in Gaza is Hamas’ fault,” he said.

Packer also shed light on his relationship with sister Gretel Packer, noting they get on well “whatever other people believe”.

But he revealed the two had faced a troubled period, with a major argument resulting in the splitting of their financial relationship.

“It never got to court,” he said.

Originally published as Billionaire James Packer slams Daniel Andrews over 'appalling' Crown tax betrayal