Federal Independent MP Andrew Wilkie has again aired allegations against the Crown casino business.
Marnie Banger | AAP
Photo Credit: AAP
Crown has rejected fresh allegations of illegal behaviour at its Melbourne casino levelled by an anonymous limousine driver linked to the gambling giant.
But Attorney-General Christian Porter has urged anyone who may have evidence about wrongdoing involving commonwealth officials to tell the nation’s law enforcement watchdog.
The whistleblower accused Crown of not reporting crimes it was aware of at the casino to police.
He also alleged the luggage of some high-rollers arriving at a Melbourne jet base on their way to Crown wasn’t checked by customs officials.
The driver made the claims in a three-minute video, in which his voice is distorted, posted by Independent Tasmanian MP Andrew Wilkie to YouTube.
Crown has dismissed all of the individual’s allegations and urged anyone with evidence of illegal conduct to report them officially to police.
“Crown rejects all of these claims,” a spokesman told AAP on Monday.
“If anyone has any allegation or evidence of unlawful conduct then they should contact the relevant authorities.”
But Mr Wilkie argues the claims show there must be a royal commission to investigate the gaming venue.
The federal MP said the unnamed driver first came to him with the allegations more than two years ago and he was confident they’re legitimate.
“I back this person and I warn the government that they can either be a part of the solution or part of the problem,” he told reporters in Canberra.
Mr Wilkie said he was also confident the flight that arrived in Melbourne without the luggage being checked hadn’t gone through another Australian airport first.
Victorian upper house MP Fiona Patten is backing Mr Wilkie’s push, stressing there should at least be a state royal commission.
The driver’s comments come after other allegations in July that Crown had been involved in money-laundering and corruption, which the venue dismissed as a smear campaign.
The federal government had referred the allegations involving Crown and federal agencies to the Australian Commission for Law Enforcement Integrity.
Mr Wilkie has maintained the authority is not up to investigating Crown.
“The pressure is back on the government to do something effective about what is going on at Crown,” he said.
The attorney-general said the authority is the best fit for the probe and has powers similar to those of a royal commission, including the ability to hold hearings and compel evidence.
Mr Porter said ACLEI will also make other authorities aware if it uncovers illegal activities unrelated to federal agencies during its investigation.
“It must give the evidence to the relevant state or federal police agency, or prosecutorial authority,” he told AAP in a statement.