The McGowan Government has appointed the Independent Monitor to oversee remediation at Perth’s casino following the Royal Commission Final Report handed down earlier this year.
The Final Report outlined a pathway for Crown to establish its suitability to hold a casino licence after a two-year period of remediation.
The appointment of an Independent Monitor was recommended by the Royal Commission to approve, monitor and report on the remediation plan of the casino operator.
Mr Paul Steel, who is currently an Assistant Commissioner with the WA Police Force, will commence in the new role as Independent Monitor on 31 October.
Mr Steel will bring decades of experience in organised crime investigation, organisational transformation, delivery of cross-government strategic outcomes and senior leadership to the new role.
During his career, Mr Steel has been the Assistant Commissioner leading the Intelligence Portfolio and Metropolitan Region Portfolio. He also held responsibility for the child sex offender register.
In his current role, he has responsibility for Counter Terrorism and Emergency Response, State Traffic, Airwing, Water Police, Mounted Police, Canine and the Tactical Response Group.
Mr Steel was also an integral part of Western Australia’s successful management of COVID-19 as the leader of Operation Tide, the WA Police Force’s response to the pandemic.
The Casino Legislation Amendment (Burswood Casino) Act 2022, which gives the Independent Monitor the appropriate legislative powers to monitor and assess Crown’s remediation processes, recently passed the Parliament and received Royal Assent.
The costs of the Independent Monitor and his staff will be recouped from the casino operator.
As stated by Racing and Gaming Minister Tony Buti:
“This is the latest step in the WA Government’s response to the Royal Commission, and represents a new era of integrity, accountability, and transparency at Perth’s Casino.
“Paul 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. That is what we require as a Government and that is what the community expects.
“Appropriately, the taxpayer will not pay for this – the cost of the Independent Monitor will be recouped from the casino operator.”
