“The remediation plan has taken many months to develop and will really drive reforms I now expect to see coming out of there.”
D’Ath said the government was committed to addressing the damning findings of the Gotterson review,along with other inquiries into casino operations across Australia.
The Gotterson review found Star misled regulators,and courted gamblers who had beenexcluded from interstate casinos and placed them at “real jeopardy” of criminal infiltration.
The government has also extended the appointment of special manager Nicholas Weeks for another 12 months.
Weeks,who wasalso appointed by the NSW Independent Casino Commission to oversee Star’s operations in that state,will remain in his Queensland oversight role until December 8,2024.
“I think it would be way too early to not have a special manager overseeing this process,” D’Ath said.
Loading
“Because this remediation plan has only just been approved,I want to give it time to be implemented.
“I do believe from what I know already that oversight is critical until I’m satisfied that the Star Entertainment Group is taking action of their own volition and not just because they’re being managed through the process.”
Star chief executive and managing director Robbie Cooke,who stepped into the role last year after the company was slugged with $100 million fines in both Queenslandand NSW,said he was pleased their remediation plan had been approved in the Sunshine State.
“It’s an important step on our path to returning to suitability in Queensland and will track and hold
us accountable throughout the multi-year program we are committed to delivering,” he said.
“At the same time,we are fully aware that successful implementation of the Remediation Plan will
require the utmost rigour and discipline.
“We need to regain the trust and confidence of all our stakeholders and communities,and continue
to have an unwavering focus on transformation.
“That comes from a clear understanding that holding casino licences is a privilege,not a right.”
Parts of the $3.6 billion Queen’s Wharf projectwere expected to open in April,a delay from previous estimates of this Christmas.