Independent Member for Clark, Andrew Wilkie, has welcomed the NSW Independent Casino Commission’s decision to suspend Star Entertainment Group’s Sydney casino licence and hit them with a $100 million fine.
“With allegations of money laundering, organised crime links and fraud within Star NSW there was no question that a hefty punishment was required for this unethical and allegedly illegal activity,” Mr Wilkie said. “It wouldn’t surprise me if the company is found to be just as dodgy in Queensland.
“This latest inquiry, along with probes into Crown in Victoria, NSW and Western Australia, further highlights how bad the situation has become and the urgent need for a national inquiry established by the Federal Government. It’s shameful then that both the Liberal and Labor parties twice shot down my calls for a national inquiry into the casino industry.
“It’s abundantly clear the casino business in this country is rotten and that the state-based regulators have let us down mightily. What we really need now is the establishment of an independent national regulator, something I’ll continue to campaign for.”