The Attorney-General of Queensland has provided casino operator Star Entertainment Group with a list of which companies and subsidiaries it has deemed unsuitable to be associated or connected with the management and operations of a casino.
According to information provided by Star on Tuesday, the entities in question are The Star Gold Coast licensee The Star Entertainment Qld Custodian Pty Ltd, Treasury Brisbane licensee The Star Entertainment Qld Ltd, The Star Entertainment Brisbane Operations Pty Ltd – which is to operate the company’s AU$3.6 billion Queen’s Wharf Brisbane Development upon opening next year – and The Star Entertainment DBC Holdings Pty Ltd which holds the Star’s 50% interest in the Destination Brisbane Consortium.
Also unsuitable is Destination Brisbane Consortium Integrated Resort Operations Pty Ltd as trustee for the Destination Brisbane Consortium Integrated Resort Operating Trust.
Attorney-General Shannon Fentiman explained that the reason for finding each entity unsuitable was for “not being a person of good repute”.
Fentiman had already announced earlier this month that parent firm Star Entertainment Group had been found unsuitable following completion in September of a review into Star’s Queensland operations, and in response to the findings of a similar review in NSW which recommended Star be found unsuitable to retain its casino license for The Star Sydney.
The state government has stated it plans to implement all 12 recommendations to emanate from the Queensland’s inquiry, including the appointment of a special manager to oversee Star’s remediation efforts, periodic investigations into the suitability of all Queensland casinos, a requirement for casino licensees to pay a supervision levy as a condition of their licence and more.
A raft of new casino laws have also been introduced, including the ability to fine operators up to AU$100 million for transgressions.