The Royal Commission investigating Crown’s fitness to hold a casino license in Western Australia has been urged to show “no sympathy” with its findings.
Commissioners are investigating whether poor government oversight contributed to issues at Crown Perth including money laundering and problem gambling.
During closing submissions on Tuesday, counsel for the Gaming and Wagering Commission Paul Evans said the seven part-time board members received “very limited remuneration” and relied onxjmtzyw 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.”
During her closing remarks, counsel for the department Fiona Seaward outlined an overhaul of processes and said it was also examining its code of conduct.
“The department has accepted, and accepts today, that its historical management of conflicts of interest was not of the standard expected of a modern public sector organisation involved in regulation,” she said.
“The department has taken a number of steps to address this issue.”
Ms Seaward also revealed WA did not have a permanent chief casino officer, but executive-director Jennifer Shelton would be appointed.
Counsel for Crown’s major shareholder James Packer will give his closing submissions on Wednesday.
The royal commission’s report is due on March 4.
The Bergin inquiry in NSW in 2020 found Crown had “enabled or facilitated” money laundering at its Perth and Melbourne casinos.
In light of the damning findings, Crown was denied a gaming licence for its new Sydney casino, where only non-gaming operations have been underway since the lavish venue’s opening at the end of that year.
But the company clung on to its Melbourne licence on a two-year effective “probation” basis after a damning royal commission last year.
