Jane Halton giving evidence to the Crown inquiry on Thursday.Credit:
Commissioner Bergin asked Crown director Jane Halton,a former top federal bureaucrat and current National COVID-19 Commission advisory board member,whether Crown had considered"that it may be perhaps inappropriate to open a casino which is the subject of a suitability inquiry?"
"I'm very aware that your report is due in February,"said Ms Halton,who is up for re-election at Crown's annual general meeting next week."In terms of that delaying the opening,no,that's not something I'm aware of having been discussed."
"I'm not talking about the opening of the building and the opening of the restaurants and all the other wonderful aspects,"Commissioner Bergin continued."Has any thought been given to the propriety or good sense – whichever you wish – in proceeding to open a casino at a time when there is an inquiry into the suitability of the licensee?"
"Not that I'm aware of commissioner,no,"Ms Halton said.
It is the first time the inquiry has raised the prospect of Crown delaying,by choice or force,the opening of its new casino. Because of COVID-19,Crown already faced the difficulty of being cut off from international high rollers,which were expected to provide around a third of its profits.
The NSW inquiry,which has the same powers as a royal commission,also heard Ms Halton claim Crown's former executive chairman,John Alexander,"pressured"her into signing an error-ridden newspaper ad attacking news reports by this masthead last year,which triggered the inquiry,as being part of a"deceitful campaign".