Conditional reprieve may be on cards for Crown Melbourne

CROWN Resorts could be given two years to show it has reformed and has become a suitable operator of its Melbourne casino, under a plan proposed by counsel assisting the Victorian Royal Commission into the James Packerbacked group.

But the lifeline would be conditional, subject to checks by a state-appointed external monitor, necessitating the further exodus of senior Crown employees and additional investments in reform, with no guarantee the company would emerge with its casino licence intact.

It would be a costly exercise for Crown, which has heavily invested in a reform agenda in a bid to regain suitability for its NSW casino licence after the Bergin inquiry revoked it this year.

The proposal was contained in counsel assisting’s written submissions to the commission that were released on Sunday, less than a week after the team of lawyers recommended Commissioner Raymond Finkelstein make a finding of unsuitability when he hands down his report in October.

Although the written submissions state Mr Finkelstein would be justified in recommending the Victorian government cancel Crown’s casino licence outright or revoke it on public interest grounds, he could also recommend Crown be given a chance to reform.

“While the evidence suggests the reform of Crown may be possible, it will be complicated, and nothing short of complete, holistic, bottom up and down reform is required,” counsel assisting wrote.