Final regulatory leash removed from Crown's neck in Perth
Racing and Gaming Minister Paul Papalia also decided against further punitive action against Crown, saying he was comfortable the business had taken appropriate action to deal with the money laundering, counter-terrorism and problem-gambling issues that plunged it into crisis nationwide following investigations by Nine Newspapers.
'I have found that Crown is a suitable entity for operating a casino without conditions or penalties. And that finding was taken to the cabinet yesterday and endorsed by the cabinet,' he said.
Papalia's decision means Crown Perth is free to operate without the intensive government oversight that had been in place since the royal commission report was finalised in 2022.
Papalia defended not using a financial penalty to punish Crown, which is now owned by private investment firm Blackstone, and downplayed the activities unearthed by the royal commission, saying 'there was never any evidence of direct money laundering activity of the nature that you witnessed in Melbourne.'
'What there was, was potential for money laundering to have been enabled, and potential for counter-terrorism or terrorism finances to have been transacted,' he said.
Following Nine Newspapers' reports the Victorian, New South Wales and WA governments conducted separate inquiries, finding the casino had allowed money laundering to take place.
The WA report found Crown Perth had facilitated money laundering, failed to investigate suspicions of money laundering, permitted junkets with links to criminals to operate at the casino and failed to minimise gambling-related harm caused by electronic gaming machines.
It also lashed the former Crown Perth board for failing in its oversight of the business.
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State, territory and federal ministers are also expected to meet in August to discuss other changes, including mandatory CCTV in childcare centres, establishing a national worker registry and mandatory child-safety training. 1800 RESPECT (1800 737 732) National Sexual Abuse and Redress Support Service 1800 211 028 Parents could be forced to monitor the quality and safety of their kids' childcare providers unless the industry's fragmentation is addressed. The federal government on Wednesday fast-tracked the introduction of a bill that could strip public funding from childcare operators that fail to meet safety standards, among other measures. Though parent and children's advocacy groups have welcomed the bill, there are also calls for a national early-childhood commission to ensure consistent oversight and accountability across Australia. "Parents deserve to know that their child is safe in care," The Parenthood chief executive Georgie Dent said. "Without a national leader to oversee, monitor and regulate quality and safety, the onus is still on parents - many of whom have little choice around their reliance on child care." This national watchdog is particularly important for those outside the capital cities as one of Labor's big second-term promises was to expand universal access to early education. "For rural, regional and remote communities, this stewardship is absolutely critical," said Jacqui Emery, chief executive of country children's charity Royal Far West. "Every Australian child, regardless of where they live, deserves access to safe, high-quality early learning." Labor expedited its bill and introduced it to the House of Representatives on Wednesday after a Victorian childcare worker was charged with dozens of sex offences involving children in early July. State regulators can already shut a centre on the spot if there is an imminent threat to safety, but Education Minister Jason Clare said the Commonwealth should also try to lift standards through its available levers. "We have to do everything that we can to ensure the safety of our children when they walk or when they're carried through the doors of an early education and care service," he told parliament. "Funding is the big weapon that the Australian government has to wield here. "The real purpose of this legislation isn't to shut centres down but to raise standards." Childcare operators that fail to meet quality, safety and compliance standards could be prevented from opening new centres and might be cut off from receiving government subsidies, which typically cover a large proportion of parents' fees. Providers would be issued with a formal notice requiring an explanation within 28 days with the Department of Education able to cancel or suspend an operator's approval. "Providers that can improve their services to meet the standard will get the chance to do that," Mr Clare said. The bill also expands commonwealth powers to publish information about providers that are sanctioned for non-compliance. Information on centres for which childcare subsidy approvals have been suspended or cancelled can already be viewed on the department's website. But the legislation would also allow for information to be made public when compliance action is taken against providers, like when an infringement notice is issued. Opposition Leader Sussan Ley said dealing with the safety of children in childcare was above politics. "I can't think of many issues in my time in this parliament that have made me feel as physically sick as this one has, and I know this feeling is shared by members across the aisle," she told parliament. 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Labor expedited its bill and introduced it to the House of Representatives on Wednesday after a Victorian childcare worker was charged with dozens of sex offences involving children in early July. State regulators can already shut a centre on the spot if there is an imminent threat to safety, but Education Minister Jason Clare said the Commonwealth should also try to lift standards through its available levers. "We have to do everything that we can to ensure the safety of our children when they walk or when they're carried through the doors of an early education and care service," he told parliament. "Funding is the big weapon that the Australian government has to wield here. "The real purpose of this legislation isn't to shut centres down but to raise standards." Childcare operators that fail to meet quality, safety and compliance standards could be prevented from opening new centres and might be cut off from receiving government subsidies, which typically cover a large proportion of parents' fees. Providers would be issued with a formal notice requiring an explanation within 28 days with the Department of Education able to cancel or suspend an operator's approval. "Providers that can improve their services to meet the standard will get the chance to do that," Mr Clare said. The bill also expands commonwealth powers to publish information about providers that are sanctioned for non-compliance. Information on centres for which childcare subsidy approvals have been suspended or cancelled can already be viewed on the department's website. But the legislation would also allow for information to be made public when compliance action is taken against providers, like when an infringement notice is issued. Opposition Leader Sussan Ley said dealing with the safety of children in childcare was above politics. "I can't think of many issues in my time in this parliament that have made me feel as physically sick as this one has, and I know this feeling is shared by members across the aisle," she told parliament. There were still issues with sharing information on working-with-children checks between jurisdictions, Mr Clare said, and more work would be done at an upcoming meeting of state and federal attorneys-general. State, territory and federal ministers are also expected to meet in August to discuss other changes, including mandatory CCTV in childcare centres, establishing a national worker registry and mandatory child-safety training. 1800 RESPECT (1800 737 732) National Sexual Abuse and Redress Support Service 1800 211 028 Parents could be forced to monitor the quality and safety of their kids' childcare providers unless the industry's fragmentation is addressed. The federal government on Wednesday fast-tracked the introduction of a bill that could strip public funding from childcare operators that fail to meet safety standards, among other measures. Though parent and children's advocacy groups have welcomed the bill, there are also calls for a national early-childhood commission to ensure consistent oversight and accountability across Australia. "Parents deserve to know that their child is safe in care," The Parenthood chief executive Georgie Dent said. "Without a national leader to oversee, monitor and regulate quality and safety, the onus is still on parents - many of whom have little choice around their reliance on child care." This national watchdog is particularly important for those outside the capital cities as one of Labor's big second-term promises was to expand universal access to early education. "For rural, regional and remote communities, this stewardship is absolutely critical," said Jacqui Emery, chief executive of country children's charity Royal Far West. "Every Australian child, regardless of where they live, deserves access to safe, high-quality early learning." Labor expedited its bill and introduced it to the House of Representatives on Wednesday after a Victorian childcare worker was charged with dozens of sex offences involving children in early July. State regulators can already shut a centre on the spot if there is an imminent threat to safety, but Education Minister Jason Clare said the Commonwealth should also try to lift standards through its available levers. "We have to do everything that we can to ensure the safety of our children when they walk or when they're carried through the doors of an early education and care service," he told parliament. "Funding is the big weapon that the Australian government has to wield here. "The real purpose of this legislation isn't to shut centres down but to raise standards." Childcare operators that fail to meet quality, safety and compliance standards could be prevented from opening new centres and might be cut off from receiving government subsidies, which typically cover a large proportion of parents' fees. Providers would be issued with a formal notice requiring an explanation within 28 days with the Department of Education able to cancel or suspend an operator's approval. "Providers that can improve their services to meet the standard will get the chance to do that," Mr Clare said. The bill also expands commonwealth powers to publish information about providers that are sanctioned for non-compliance. Information on centres for which childcare subsidy approvals have been suspended or cancelled can already be viewed on the department's website. 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Perth Now
7 hours ago
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STI update on childcare kids
All children tested for sexually transmitted infections in connection with an accused childcare pedophile have so far tested negative, the Victorian government said. About 2000 children required testing as part of a police investigation into alleged child abuser Joshua Dale Brown. Deputy Premier Ben Carroll told reporters on Wednesday that the latest advice came from health authorities. 'I think they've tested just about everyone — but I can get that clarified — and all the tests have been negative,' he said. 'This is something we hoped for and wished for.' Mr Brown, 26, is facing more than 70 charges, including sexual activity in presence of a child under 16, sexual assault of a child under 16 and possessing child abuse material. He has yet to enter pleas to the charges. The charges involve eight children, aged between five months and two years, between April 2022 and January 2023. As a precaution, testing was required for children who attended all of the centres where he worked. Mr Brown worked at 23 childcare centres in Melbourne between January 2017 and May 2025. Joshua Dale Brown's lawyer Rishi Nathwani has flagged more charges could be laid. NewsWire / Diego Fedele Credit: News Corp Australia It was revealed on Tuesday in court that more charges could be laid. High-profile barrister Rishi Nathwani appeared in court as prosecutors requested additional time to prepare a hand-up brief of their evidence against Mr Brown. Mr Brown did not appear in court for the brief hearing. Magistrate Donna Bakos approved the request for police to provide their case to Mr Brown's lawyers by December 4. The court was told police had provided a sworn affidavit in support of the delay, which was unopposed by Mr Nathwani. The barrister said the affidavit was 'helpful and detailed' in setting out the significant investigational steps police still need to undertake. Mr Nathwani also flagged the informant — the detective who laid the charges — had written that there was the potential for further charges and amendments to the existing charges. Mr Brown is expected to return to court in February.
