https://www.abc.net.au/news/2021-09-08/crown-perth-royal-commission-ex-casino-chief-michael-connolly/100439898
WA's former chief casino officer juggled invitations to pizza and movie nights, skydiving and fishing trips with Crown Perth executives with negotiations to relax the regulation of junkets, the Perth Casino Royal Commission has been told.
The inquiry heard yesterday that Michael Connolly approved changes to junket rules in the casino manual, via powers delegated to him by the Gaming and Wagering Commission (GWC), in April 2017.
The decision came the day after he was invited to a pizza night by Crown Perth's former compliance boss, Paul Hulme.
The financial crimes watchdog Austrac also wrote to Mr Connolly that same year, highlighting its concerns about its ability to track international money laundering.
Yet Mr Connolly did not tell the GWC about either of these warnings as it grappled to respond to the media reports.
Ms Cahill: "Quite obviously, once you had been told by Austrac in 2017 that that reliance on Austrac and Border Force was misplaced and you then had allegations as were aired in the 60 Minutes report about the risks of those junkets, you in your position as [deputy director-general] and chief casino officer should have put that all squarely in front of the GWC and said 'we need to find another way to mitigate the risk. Here is what I suggest'."
Mr Connolly: "Clearly, I have failed. Clearly, I have failed."