From both a public health and a public relations perspective, Victorian Premier Daniel Andrews stepped in it when he briefly advocated that Crown Melbourne, a Crown Resorts casino, stay open even as businesses around it were closing due to the spread of the Covid-19 virus.
In Andrews’ view, provided the casino practice extra safety measures, it was a “unique space” that deserved an exemption.
“The chief health officer is confident that the arrangements that have been put in place are appropriate,” he said.
According to the Sydney Morning Herald, Crown was “savaged” by Anthony Byrne, deputy head of parliament’s powerful national security committee, among others, for its attempt to keep operating.
“This once-in-a-lifetime pandemic is a matter of national security requiring us to take all steps to protect our community,” Byrne said. “Crown doesn’t offer a ‘unique’ community service. It is not a special place. It undermines confidence in government measures to contain the virus by giving Crown a free ride to remain open.”
Byrne added that he was “dealing with petrified emergency services workers—what do I tell them if they are infected by a person exposed to the virus they caught at the casino?” Crown Perth in Western Australia was also given an exemption; both casinos were permitted to run their gaming rooms provided that every other poker machine was turned off.
In New South Wales and Queensland, meanwhile, Star Entertainment was also allowed to stay open for a time, though it closed for four hours every morning for a “comprehensive cleaning process.”
Monash University School of Public Health Professor Charles Livingstone said the failure to shut down any casinos during the Covid-19 scare may increase the virus’ spread.
“In my opinion poker machines are a high-risk vector for infection given they require people to regularly and repetitively touch buttons,” Livingstone said.
And Samantha Thomas, a Deakin University public health and gaming expert, said the government “should understand that pandemics trump gambling profits.”
Finally, casinos across the country were ordered closed indefinitely by Prime Minister Scott Morrison.
