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Only two weeks into starting her new job heading Victoria’s revamped casino regulator and Annette Kimmitt is making her mark on Crown Resorts. She famously defied convention last year by questioning the move by the law firm she led, MinterEllison, to represent former Attorney-General Christian Porter over rape allegations.
Kimmitt, whose crusading behaviour particularly around gender advocacy is well documented, left MinterEllison after the blow up with other partners over the Porter matter.
She is clearly prepared to ruffle feathers - a feature not seen before from a casino regulator.
The appointment of Victoria’s gambling regulator boss Annette Kimmitt ushers in a new era in casino regulation.Credit:Dominic Lorrimer
In an unrelated twist, MinterEllison, which had previously represented Crown Resorts, was placed under uncomfortable scrutiny in 2020 during a NSW regulatory inquiry that heard it had advised its client not to undertake a more extensive review of internal bank accounts which were found to have been used to launder money.
Insiders believe it is no coincidence that the first piece of action undertaken by the revamped casino watchdog, the Victorian Gaming and Casino Control Commission (VGCCC), was announced soon after Kimmitt’s feet were under the desk.
She ushers in a new era in casino regulation and unchartered waters for the industry. In the past, state governments have allowed casinos to operate in a regulation-lite environment which recent history has demonstrated has been abused by the operators. The pendulum has now swung as state governments have been exposed for enjoying the hefty tax receipts from casinos but allowing damaging illegal behaviour to take place under their noses.
Since 2020 two state-based royal commissions and a commission of inquiry have found Crown is unfit to hold a casino in NSW, Victoria and West Australia. Crown’s rival Star could face a similar finding when Adam Bell, SC, completes his inquiry into its suitability to hold a licence.
Under VGCCC’s predecessor, the maximum fines were $1 million but have now been increased to $100 million and this provides scope for the regulator to inflict more financial damage to the casino using its enhanced legislative powers.
The VGCCC has kicked off its disciplinary proceedings with Crown’s attempts to evade China’s currency restrictions by disguising ChinaUnion Pay debit transactions that were used to fund gambling as hotel expenses.