Crown Resorts Chairman Helen Coonan has promised to work closely with NSW gaming regulators to address findings of “serious conduct, culture and compliance issues” within the Bergin Report.
Commissioner Patricia Bergin’s 751-page report, released this week, found Crown unsuitable to hold a NSW casino license for its AU$2.2 billion (US$1.6 billion) Crown Sydney development. However, it also outlined measures Crown can take to get to suitability with Coonan issuing a statement on Thursday morning promising to do just that.
“I welcome the Commissioner’s report of the NSW Independent Liquor and Gaming Authority Inquiry,” the statement reads.
“I thank the Commissioner for the report and the ILGA Chairperson, Philip Crawford, for his constructive comments yesterday regarding the next steps.
“As the Chairman of a high-profile public company in Australia, I recognize community and regulatory expectations of the way we conduct our operations are rightly high.
“The Commissioner has made findings of serious conduct, culture and compliance issues that clearly do not accord with our values. I accept criticism is warranted and reiterate our unreserved apologies for these shortcomings.
“While we have already taken a number of important steps to improve our governance, compliance and culture, I recognize from the Commissioner’s report we have much more to do.
“We do not underestimate the scale of the problem and appreciate there is a need for ‘root and branch’ change. This change has commenced.
“Importantly, the Commissioner’s report outlines a pathway towards suitability to give effect to the Barangaroo Restricted Gaming Licence. Noting that ILGA will now consider and respond to the recommendations, I today commit to working in an orderly and coordinated manner with Mr Crawford.
“We owe it to the over 20,000 people who work at Crown’s properties to move with pace as we implement the necessary reforms.”
Coonan also thanked Guy Jalland and Michael Johnston, representatives of Crown’s largest shareholder Consolidated Press Holdings, for their efforts after they stepped down from the board on Wednesday.
