Paul Steel, Western Australia’s (WA) police force assistant commissioner, has been appointed as an independent monitor to oversee the compliance of Crown Resorts’ Crown Perth casino, following a recommendation from the Royal Commission (RC) which found Crown to be unsuitable for licensure earlier this year.
According to the WA state government, Steel will begin his duties on October 31. The RC report outlined a two-year remediation plan.
Steel’s appointment follows similar actions taken by the Victorian government with respect to the remediation efforts of Crown Melbourne, which was also deemed unfit to hold its license.
The police commissioner has many years of experience in “organized crime investigation, organizational transformation, delivery of cross-government strategic outcomes and senior leadership,” according to a government release.
Tony Buti, the state’s racing and gaming minister, added more praise, telling Inside Asian Gaming that Steel “has a proven record of delivering great outcomes across a career of almost 30 years in law enforcement and criminal investigation, including in key leadership roles.”
“The purpose of the recent legislation and Independent Monitor is to restore integrity to the casino operator in Perth to ensure that it is operating in a first-class manner,” Buti added. “That is what we require as a Government and that is what the community expects.”
All costs associated with Steel’s appointment will be shouldered by Crown, and not with public funds.
