Operator News
Second Bell inquiry into The Star Sydney to be held primarily in public
By Phil - 25 March 2024
The second inquiry into Star Entertainment Group’s suitability, which will be overseen by Adam Bell, the man who previously deemed the operator unfit to hold a casino licence for its Sydney casino, will be held primarily in public.
Acknowledging the move, The Star stated: “Following the announcement on 19 February 2024 that The Star Entertainment Group Limited (The Star) has been advised by the NSW Independent Casino Commission (NICC) that the NICC has appointed Mr Adam Bell SC to preside over an inquiry. The Star has today been advised by NICC that Mr Bell SC has formed the view it is in the public interest for the Inquiry hearings to be held primarily in public.
“The Star has also been notified by the NICC, that the NICC has determined to extend the date on which Mr Bell SC’s report on the results of the Inquiry is to be delivered to 31 July 2024, to allow for public hearings to be held. As a result, the NICC intends to seek an extension of the term of Mr Weeks as
Manager of The Star casino for a further period to 30 September 2024. The Star continues to appreciate the opportunity to demonstrate it has the ability to regain suitability and will do all in its power to work cooperatively with all its regulators including the NICC and its appointed manager as well as continuing to participate in the Inquiry in an open, transparent and facilitative manner.”
The findings of the first Bell inquiry included serious misconduct and compliance failures including with internal control manuals, misleading and deceptive conduct and a corporate culture that fell significantly short of what was expected. The Bell Review found that The Star was unsuitable to be concerned in or associated with the management and operation of a casino in NSW.
Following the Bell Review, the NICC suspended the Star’s licence indefinitely and appointed Nick Weeks as independent manager of The Star to give The Star an opportunity to demonstrate that it was suitable or was capable of reaching suitability within a reasonable time. Mr Weeks was appointed for an initial 90 days; however, his term was extended twice by way of regulation. Before the manager’s appointment ends, the NICC will conduct a rigorous investigative inquiry that gives The Star the chance to demonstrate its suitability to hold a casino licence.
The manager’s term was due to expire June 30 this year, however the NICC has extended this term to 30 September 2024 to accommodate the change to the change to the completion date for the Inquiry. Mr Weeks’ continued managership is essential to enable the casino to remain operational while the Inquiry is conducted and the NICC considers Mr Bell’s report.
NICC chairman Philip Crawford said: “There is much at stake for The Star, so the NICC is giving the casino every chance it can to demonstrate whether it has the capacity and competence to achieve suitability. This includes meeting its financial obligations under the casino licence and funding its remediation program sufficiently. The inquiry will provide the NICC with the information needed to make an important decision for The Star, its employees, its stakeholders and the wider community.”
