The barrister representing Robbie Cooke has told an inquiry the company’s directors “cannot escape” they were part of the rift with the NSW casino authorities.
Star Entertainment’s board was operating as a “wartime cabinet” and was heavily involved in the exchanges that agitated the NSW casino regulator, the barrister representing the company’s former chief executive says.
“The board met over 120 times in 2023 … and I will be seeking to persuade you … that there is no diarchy here between Mr Foster and Mr Cooke which excluded members of the board and the ,” he said. “We understand the board members now regret the unintended effect the responses had on the Star’s relationship with the regulator. The board cannot escape … that they entirely owned the responses, including the cover letter.”
Luke Livingston SC, appearing for Mr Foster, said that the former chairman was not a barrier to Star’s suitability. He described the board of being “highly engaged and proactive”, disputing a fiefdom of two individuals.“We say that the evidence relied upon by counsel assisting does fall well short of establishing the extremely broad and categorical conclusion that they seek ... that Mr Foster personally was a barrier to suitability,” he said.
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