The Perth Casino Royal Commission is expected to deliver its final report to West Australian Governor Kim Beazley and Premier Mark McGowan today.
It comes after months of public hearings to examine whether Crown Perth should continue to hold a casino gaming licence and the effectiveness of the state’s regulatory framework.
Racing and Gaming Minister Tony Buti said the state government would consider and respond to the findings and recommendations, then table the report in parliament.
He said some initiatives had already begun after issues wexjmtzywre raised in the interim report last August, including conflict of interest management.
“The Perth Casino Royal Commission has involved an enormous amount of work,” Mr Buti said in a statement on Friday.
“The state government will be seriously considering all the recommendations put forward in the final report.
“This has been a long and thorough process and I also extend my gratitude to the Perth Casino Royal Commission for its work.
“Work can now begin on examining the findings and recommendations to ensure we have optimal systems in place to manage casinos in Western Australia.”
The probe is the third faced by Crown Resorts over now substantiated allegations of money laundering at the Perth casino and also at its Melbourne venue.
Billionaire and major shareholder James Packer told the royal commission during one of its hearings that he did not attend a single board meeting of Crown Perth’s Burswood Ltd between 2013 to 2016 after he moved overseas.
Mr Packer also conceded there were many “things that should have been done differently” at Crown Perth.
During closing submissions, counsel for the Gaming and Wagering Commission Paul Evans said the seven part-time board members received “very limited remuneration” and relied on the Department of Local Government, Sport and Cultural Industries.
“GWC urges no sympathy for Crown, or any past or present Crown officer,” he said.
“Nor indeed, regrettably, to the extent that it may be necessary – and only if it’s necessary – departmental officers or former members of the commission.”
The Bergin inquiry in NSW in 2020 found Crown had “enabled or facilitated” money laundering at its Perth and Melbourne casinos.
Crown was then denied a gaming licence for its new Sydney casino.
But the company kept its Melbourne licence on a two-year effective “probation” basis after the Victorian royal commission.
