Show of unity by crossbenchers puts Coalition under pressure following Crown casino allegations

This article is more than 1 year old

This article is more than 1 year old

The Tasmanian independent Jacqui Lambie says she will consider telling the Morrison government “where to stick their bills” if the Coalition continues to pursue a suboptimal federal integrity commission.

Lambie made the threat during a show of unity by parliamentary crossbenchers on Wednesday about the necessity for stronger accountability measures in response to allegations aired by Nine this week against the casino operator Crown Resorts.

On Wednesday the Age reported that the Australian Criminal Intelligence Commission will conduct a special investigation into organised crime in Australian casinos.

The ACIC’s targeting criminal wealth special investigation will reportedly probe the operation of agents known as junkets who are responsible for bringing high roller clients into casinos, usually from offshore.

The government has already referred the allegations aired about Crown to the Australian Commission for Law Enforcement Integrity.

ACIC chief, Michael Phelan, reportedly said the “infrastructure supporting junket operations … provides opportunities for exploitation by serious and organised crime to conceal and legitimise criminal wealth”.

“The structure of junket operations enables opaqueness around the source of beneficial ownership of funds … and represents a significant money laundering risk.”

Phelan did not name which operators were being examined.

On Wednesday Crown issued public advertisements boasting that it has “a comprehensive anti-money laundering and counter-terrorism financing program” and “robust process” for vetting junket operators through a combination of probity, integrity and police checks.

In the ads the Crown board states that junket operators are “not Crown’s” but rather “independent operators who arrange for their customers to visit many casinos globally”.

In addition to making a public threat about potentially withholding legislative support, Lambie also urged would-be whistleblowers to bring fresh material to non-aligned parliamentarians. “We have no fear and we have the advantage of privilege in the chamber,” the Tasmanian senator said.

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“If you’ve got documents you want to produce to us and you don’t want to be named, I tell you what we have no fear in standing up in the chamber and calling them out for what is going on here.”

The Centre Alliance senator Rex Patrick told reporters there was “no question” the crossbench would seek changes to the Morrison government’s bill to establish a federal anti-corruption commission to give it “proper jurisdiction and powers”.

Lambie said the Centre Alliance had already drawn up an alternative bill, which had been sent to drafters and will be presented when parliament resumes in five weeks after the winter recess. “Obviously I want it to have more teeth than Jaws,” she said.

Under the government’s proposal, the ALCEI will be converted into an anti-corruption commission – a model that has been criticised by some experts.

On Tuesday, the independent lower house MP Andrew Wilkie was unsuccessful in his efforts to move a motion establishing a joint parliamentary committee to examine Crown.

The attorney general, Christian Porter, instead asked the Australian Commission for Law Enforcement Integrity to investigate. Porter said it was “the most appropriate body to consider these allegations”.

Wilkie, who blasted Tuesday’s referral, said the Australian public would not accept the “weak integrity commission that has been proposed by the current government”.

“The public want something with teeth. And the public want to know what politicians in this place are trying to hide – because that’s the only reason you’d oppose an integrity commission.”

Wilkie noted the Nine investigation into Crown casino had included claims that two ministers and an MP had lobbied the home affairs department to facilitate entry of VIPs and high-roller gamblers to Australia by private jet.

The Greens MP Adam Bandt said while this conduct may not constitute a crime, it could possibly constitute corruption. Lambie declared there were “morally corrupt” politicians in the parliament.

Wilkie said the government’s Australian Commissioner for Law Enforcement Integrity inquiry was a “snow job” that was only “good as far as it goes” but could not directly investigate employees of Crown and other government agencies, such as the Victorian Commission for Gambling and Liquor Regulation.

In a statement on Tuesday, Crown said it “absolutely rejects allegations of illegality made in parliament today and in recent media reporting” and that it would assist the ACLEI investigation.