WENDELL HUSSEY | Cadet | CONTACT
The report from the Royal Commission into Melbourne’s Crown Casino has been released this week, with a too-be-expected finding handed down.
Despite finding that the behaviour of the operators was “disgraceful” and their practices were “variously illegal, dishonest, unethical and exploitative,” royal commissioner Ray Finkelstein has confirmed that Crown can keep its licence.
Unsurprisingly, the Victorian State Government has subsequently accepted the finding that business should continue as usual, confirming the long-held principle that the house always wins.
“That’s the way it’s always been, and that’s the way it will always be,” confirmed Victorian Premier Daniel Andrews this morning.
“I know, I know, if ever there was a chance to rip up Crown’s licence for appalling behaviour this was it,” he said.
“Confirmation that they are dodging hundreds of millions in tax, getting their staff jailed in China, cosying up with organised crime, facilitating money laundering, preying on people with gambling addictions”
“But we knew all that already”
“Besides, if we ripped it up someone else we would just come along and swoop up the licence”
“And the government and regulators would then need to rebuild the blind eye relationships all over again”
“Too much work”
As a result, the Government will appoint a ‘special manager’ who oversees operations at the Casino for the next two years until things have blown over.
“Hopefully they’ve tidied things up by then,” said Andrews.
“And they can get on top of those whistleblowers before they start leaking shit”
