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Independent Member for Clark, Andrew Wilkie, joined Rev Tim Costello AO to discuss the NSW Crime Commission’s damning findings into money laundering in clubs and pubs.

“The damning report by the NSW Crime Commission into money laundering in clubs and pubs is shocking but, regrettably, hardly surprising”, Mr Wilkie said.

“We all know that gambling joints attract trouble. But the amount of dirty money being gambled and often laundered, measured in the billions of dollars annually in NSW alone, must surely force all state and territory governments to wake up and implement the strongest of reforms.

“For a start all jurisdictions must implement the Crime Commission’s number one recommendation – that a mandatory cashless gaming system, in other words an anti-money laundering card, be rolled out.

“The Tasmanian Government has announced that it will introduce this type of anti-money laundering card and the people of NSW deserve exactly the same level of protection from crime.”

Rev Costello said the findings from the inquiry highlighted the need for comprehensive measures to be put in place.

“The game is up for clubs and pubs in NSW,” Rev Costello said. “They have been enabling criminal activity for too long and an anti-money laundering card is the only way to protect the NSW community and its young people. Clubs and pubs have no right to try and resist this any longer.”