Crown Melbourne License Decision Deadline Extended to October 15

The Victorian administration has extended the cutoff date for the Royal Commission to decide if Crown Melbourne can be granted a permit in the state.

The original August cutoff has been moved to October 15, 2021. Crown stated it will continue to fully cooperate with the Royal Commission, which is led by Raymond Finkelstein QC.

Crown’s Chief Executive Helen Coonan stated: “As Chief Executive, I have made it 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 esteemed organization.
“We have started a comprehensive program of significant change, improvement and personnel alterations. We cannot alter the past, but we can take decisive action to drive the company’s future culture and transparency.”

The state administration first declared the investigation into Crown in February, following an investigation in New South Wales that found Crown unfit to be licensed at Barangaroo.

A controversy in New South Wales, involving Crown’s assets and financial records being utilized for illicit financial transactions, and worries about their collaborations with high-profile groups linked to criminal enterprises, resulted in the departure of Crown’s former chief executive officer, Ken Barton, in February. Other senior management personnel also departed the organization.

Kunan then assumed the position of executive chairman, serving as both chair of the board and chief executive officer until a permanent chief executive officer is selected.