SkyCity Adelaide

In reply to the Hon. C. BONAROS (26 October 2021).

The Hon. R.I. LUCAS (Treasurer): The Attorney-General has advised:

1. The royal commission by the Hon. R Finkelstein AO QC was established by the Victorian government to inquire into, and report on, the suitability of Crown Melbourne Ltd to hold its Victorian casino licence and the suitability of its associates, including Crown Resorts Limited.

The precursor to this inquiry were the findings of the Hon. P. Bergin SC who found that Crown Sydney Gaming Pty Ltd was not suitable to hold the New South Wales Barangaroo restricted casino licence and that Crown Resorts Limited was not suitable to be its close associate. The Bergin Inquiry had regard to the conduct of Crown through its Melbourne and Perth integrated resorts.

A further commission, inquiring into the suitability of Crown Perth to hold a casino licence in Western Australia and whether Crown Resorts Limited is a suitable person to be concerned in or associated with the organisation and conduct of the gaming operations of a licensed casino, is currently in progress and is expected to report early next year.

To be clear, these royal commissions are only concerned with the suitability of subsidiaries of Crown Resorts Limited to hold casino licences in NSW, Victoria and Western Australia. To date, none of these inquiries have alleged any wrongdoing or connection with the holder of the South Australian casino licence, SkyCity Adelaide Pty Ltd.

Noting the findings of the Hon. P. Bergin SC into the suitability of Crown to hold a restricted gaming licence in NSW, the Liquor and Gambling Commissioner announced his intention to undertake a review of the operations of SkyCity Adelaide.

As the honourable member is aware, the commissioner suspended his review following subsequent advice that AUSTRAC had commenced a formal enforcement investigation into SkyCity Adelaide following identification of potential serious noncompliance with SkyCity Adelaide’s obligations under the Anti-Money Laundering and Counter-Terrorism Financing Act 2006 and Anti-Money Laundering and Counter-Terrorism Financing Rules.

The government welcomes the action taken by AUSTRAC. It would be inappropriate to disclose information relating to that investigation.

I can however confirm that the commissioner will continue to monitor the current casino royal commission in Western Australia. The outcomes of that royal commission, together with the findings of the Bergin and Finkelstein reports and the outcome of the AUSTRAC investigation, will better inform the commissioner’s advice to government as to what action, if any, is required.

Certainly, while not wanting to pre-empt the findings of the ongoing royal commission or AUSTRAC investigation, further reform in South Australia may be required potentially involving changes to the Casino Act 1997, Adelaide Casino Responsible Gambling and Advertising Codes of Practice and Approved Licensing Agreement and formal directions being issued to the Casino licensee by the commissioner.

2. There is nothing further to add to the answer that I provided to the honourable member’s question on 12 October 2021.