SkyCity Adelaide

The Hon. C. BONAROS (15:01): I seek leave to make a brief explanation before asking the Attorney-General, representing the Minister for Consumer and Business Affairs in another place, a question about SkyCity Adelaide Casino.

Leave granted.

The Hon. C. BONAROS: As this chamber is aware, the casino is currently the subject of two separate investigations, one by AUSTRAC, the federal government's financial crimes watchdog, and one by retired South Australian Supreme Court Judge Brian Martin KC, the latter at the request of the state's gambling regulator. The casino's owner, New Zealand-based SkyCity Entertainment Group, held its AGM last week, where both investigations were central to the company's updates to its shareholders. SkyCity's chair, prominent Adelaide businessman Glenn Davis, told shareholders that the company had identified areas where:

In our work to review our practices, given the heightened industry scrutiny, enhancements to our anti-money laundering program are required or appropriate.

We obviously face the risk of enforcement action and penalties if the regulator takes the view our performance was of a standard that warranted that.

My questions to the minister are:

1. Do the comments from the casino's chair concern the government?

2. Has the government yet been briefed by AUSTRAC on its investigation? If not, why not, given the seriousness of the concerns of the federal agency and the impact on the casino's operations?

3. Is the government developing contingency plans in the event the casino is found by AUSTRAC or Mr Martin KC of being in breach of its licence?

4. What options are available to the government should that occur and/or the casino is found guilty of serious charges of criminal activity within the casino?

The Hon. K.J. MAHER (Minister for Aboriginal Affairs, Attorney-General, Minister for Industrial Relations and Public Sector) (15:02): I thank the honourable member for her question. I will refer the matters referred to to the member responsible in another place and bring back a reply.