The terms of reference for the Bergin inquiry were amended during the course of the inquiry.
The terms of reference referred explicitly to reports by the Nine Network, The Sydney Morning Herald and The Age – all of which are owned by Nine Entertainment Co – from July 27, 2019, and said they had “raised various allegations into the conduct of Crown Resorts and its alleged associates and business partners and raised questions as to whether the Licensee remains a suitable person to hold a restricted gaming [licence]“.
The terms of reference said the allegations included “but are not limited to, allegations that Crown Resorts or its agents, affiliates or subsidiaries: (a) engaged in money-laundering; (b) breached gambling laws; and (c) partnered with junket operators with links to drug traffickers, money launderers, human traffickers, and organised crime groups”.
Among other things, Commissioner Bergin was tasked with inquiring into and reporting on whether Crown Sydney Gaming was a “suitable person” to continue to hold the Barangaroo casino licence, and whether Crown Resorts, its parent company, was a “suitable person” to be a close associate of the licensee.
If the answer to either of those questions was no, Commissioner Bergin was to consider what, if any, changes would be required to make them suitable.
