The NSW State Government says it will push through legislation aimed at protecting the jobs of workers at The Star Sydney by creating a “jobs guarantee”.
While details on the legislation and any such guarantee remain light, the comments – from NSW Treasurer Daniel Mookhey – come after the government officially signed an agreement with the state’s two casino operators, Star Entertainment Group and Crown Resorts, over increases to casino tax duties earlier this week.
However, while Star described the agreement as vital in protecting its workers at The Star Sydney, local rival Crown Sydney this week revealed it would need to cut 180 jobs as it looks to streamline operations, which will also see the hours of operation of its VIP casino slashed.
This is despite the NSW Government stating on Tuesday that the revised casino duty rates do not change the agreements Crown signed with the previous government. Crown Sydney offers table games and ETGs but not slot machines.
The new casino duty rates will see table rates for both The Star and Crown Sydney rise, backdated to 1 July 2023, while Star will pay a transitional levy on poker machines until a new duty regime commences on 1 July 2030.
In a statement issued on Tuesday, the NSW government said it will introduce legislation to “create a jobs guarantee at The Star, protecting the livelihoods of more than 3000 workers over the next six years.”
Noting that larger increases had been proposed by the former government last December and written into the state budget “without consultation with Sydney’s two casinos”, it added that consultation with the current government has now resulted in both casinos agreeing to comply with the tax obligations.
“The previous government had bungled their casinos policy,” said Mookhey.
“It was one of the most difficult challenges I inherited. These arrangements will see both casinos pay higher taxes.
“The government can now proceed with legislation which will see more than 3000 workers have their jobs protected at The Star.
“I note Crown has made it clear that recent job losses arise from their trading conditions.
“The government will continue to engage with Crown and The Star, as well as worker representatives, on their operating models and regulatory frameworks – especially as both are remediating their businesses.”
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