Former judge to probe Star’s Qld casinos with public hearing powers

The inquiry will have the power to directly question Star employees or other relevant people, take submissions and hold public hearings.

The probe will look at the casinos’ commitment to anti-money-laundering responsibilities, management of VIP patrons, efforts to help Chinese nationals bypass gambling restrictions, exclusions of banned patrons and approach to harm minimisation.

“Without limiting the scope, the inquiry is not required to inquire into particular matters that have been sufficiently and appropriately dealt with by the [NSW] Bell review,” the terms of reference state, while outlining its ability to seek evidence gleaned from that probe.

“Evidence presented during [NSW] public hearings raises significant concerns regarding the operations of The Star Sydney and, given the shared governance and operational arrangements, the conduct of Star Group entities more broadly.”

The inquiry will be assisted by Jonathan Horton QC and is expected to report to Attorney-General Shannon Fentiman by September 30 — less than a month after the final NSW report is due.

It will comprise three elements: whether Star’s operations in the state are consistent with law, whether Star is fit to hold the licences for its Brisbane and Gold Coast casinos, and whether there are further means to “restore public confidence in casino operations” after recent inquiries found rival Crown was unfit to hold its interstate licences.

“Given the weight of evidence that has emerged regarding the operations of The Star Sydney and the shared governance and operational arrangements of Star Group entities more broadly, it is important the inquiry can seek information from anyone it sees fit,” Fentiman said.

In a later statement, shadow attorney-general Tim Nicholls said he believed the terms of reference did not go far enough to address the role of unions, lobbyists and the government.

Nicholls said he would write to Gotterson requesting the scope be broadened to “see the whole picture” and public hearings be used as the primary method of information gathering.

In a recent submission to a move to tighten casino regulation in the state, Star sought to distance its Queensland sites from its NSW operations, and pushed back on some proposed measures, including the ability to apply new financial penalties for past breaches.

Queensland police and other law enforcement agencies first launched investigations at least eight months ago after reporting by this masthead.

Fentiman this month suggested there was still a pathway for Star to anchor the $3.6 billion Queen’s Wharf development, due to open in Brisbane’s CBD in mid-2023.

This week, the company announced Tyro Payments boss Robbie Cooke as its next chief executive in an appointment the group hoped would “restore confidence”. Previous chief executive Matt Bekier and chairman John O’Neill both resigned amid the failures by the group aired in the NSW inquiry.

On Monday, lawyers assisting that inquiry argued Star should not hold a casino licence until it had fully addressed its internal culture and reluctance to admit wrongdoing.