Michael Connolly, ex-chief casino officer of Western Australia, has appointed his own attorney to represent him during the Royal Commission into the allegations against Crown Resorts. Mr Connolly resigned from his position as chief casino officer earlier this year after word spread about his contacts with members of the gambling operator’s staff.
The former casino officer presently occupies the position of deputy director general of the Department of Local Government, Sport, and Cultural Industries. Attorney Nicholas Malone from the Perth-based Pragma Lawyers will represent him before West Australia’s Royal Commission. It became known Mr Connelly will keep company with other key figures, including the former and present directors of Australia’s biggest gambling and entertainment group, Crown Resorts.
Mr Connelly stepped down from his role as Western Australia’s chief casino officer in February 2021. His resignation came after local media questioned the nature of his relationship with several important staff members of Crown Resorts. It came to light that the people in question were Claude Marais and Paul Hulme. Both are members of the gambling giant’s regulatory and legal compliance departments.
The Perth-based commercial radio station 6PR revealed that Connolly had maintained social relations with Hulme and Marais. Said relations were acknowledged by Duncan Ord, the director general of the Department of Local Government, Sports, and Cultural Industries. However, Mr Ord said at the time the staff members in question did not hold decision-making positions at Crown.
He also denied they were part of the gaming and entertainment group’s executive management. Mark McGowan, Premier of Western Australia, also chimed in on the matter, expressing his disappointment at what he called “inappropriate” relations.
At his previous position, Mr Connelly was responsible for issuing or refusing licenses to gambling operators. He was also tasked with the approval of important casino personnel members. He is succeeded as chief casino officer by Mark Beecroft after his social relations with key Crown personnel came to light.
This Is the First Western Australia Royal Commission in Twenty Years
The Commission gave the former chief casino officer permission to appear in regard to its probe into West Australia’s casino regulatory framework. Chairing commissioner Neville Owen revealed Connelly’s involvement had to do chiefly with term of reference number ten. Said term of reference concerns the Western Australia Gaming and Wagering Commission’s ability and efficiency when it comes to carrying out its functions and responsibilities.
Western Australia’s casino regulatory framework came under scrutiny after the allegation of money laundering through Crown’s branch in Perth. This resulted in Western Australia’s Attorney General, the Honorable John Quigley, announcing the state would call its first Royal Commission in twenty years to investigate the allegations.
The Commission will probe into two matters, the first one being the casino regulations in the state. It will also determine whether or not Crown is a fitting license holder for the casino in Perth. The Commission will release its interim report by the end of June while its final report on the matter will be delivered by mid-November.
- Author
Daniel Williams
