The Victorian administration has extended the time limit for the Royal Commission to finish its investigation into whether Crown Melbourne should be granted a permit in the state.
The initial August deadline has been moved to October 15, 2021. Crown has stated it will continue to fully cooperate with the Royal Commission, which is being led by Raymond Finkelstein QC.
Crown’s Chief Executive Officer, Helen Coonan, stated: “As Chief Executive Officer, I have been clear that any deficiencies identified by the Royal Commission will be addressed. The Board and I are committed to making Crown a more robust, more transparent and more respected enterprise.
“We have already begun a comprehensive program of significant reforms, improvements and personnel changes. We cannot alter the past, but we can take decisive action to drive the future culture and transparency of the company.”
The state government initially announced the investigation into Crown in February, following an investigation in New South Wales that found Crown unsuitable to be granted a permit in Barangaroo.
A major controversy in New South Wales, Australia, has shaken the Crown casino. It was found that Crown’s resources and financial records were utilized for illicit financial transactions, sparking serious worries about their associations with high-roller rooms linked to criminal groups. This scandal resulted in the resignation of Crown’s former chief executive, Ken Barton, in February, followed by the departure of several other senior leaders.
Kunan assumed the role of executive chairman, temporarily filling Barton’s position while the search for a permanent CEO continues.
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