Government's relationship with Crown has aged like milk

2021-07-20

The Victorian Greens have said the relationship between successive Labor and Liberal state governments and Crown is well past its expiry date, and that it’s time to dump Crown like bad milk.

For too long Victorian governments have provided Crown with sweet deals and leniency, enabling the gambling giant to get away with money laundering, bags of cash under desks, and links to international crime syndicates.

Meanwhile both the Labor and Liberal parties have pocketed thousands in donations.

And now, counsel assisting has submitted to the Royal Commission that Crown is not suitable to operate its Melbourne casino.

Leader of the Victorian Greens, Samantha Ratnam, said the writing had been on the wall for years, yet the government’s close relationship with Crown had prevented it from taking action.

She said it was high time the government dumped Crown and stripped it of its Victorian licence, to curb any more corrupt behaviour.

To ensure the government doesn't shirk its responsibility for this mess, the Greens will be moving in Parliament to expand the Royal Commission’s terms of reference so the regulator and the government’s involvement are investigated.

Quotes attributable to Leader of the Victorian Greens, Samantha Ratnam MLC:   

"The state government’s relationship with Crown has aged like milk.

“For years the gambling giant has been able to run amok under a wilfully ignorant government and ineffectual regulator, leading to outrageous behaviour.

“And now, in news that should surprise exactly no-one, the Royal Commission is hearing that Crown isn’t fit to hold a licence in Victoria.

"When will this government realise its relationship with Crown has past its expiry date?"