AUSTRAC CEO Brendan Thomas has admitted some frustration at the lengthy amount of time it is taking Australia’s Federal Court to deliver a verdict on the civil case brought by the country’s AML regulator against Star Entertainment Group but reiterated that taking legal action was essential given the serious nature of the matters at hand.
The case was first presented in November 2022, with AUSTRAC alleging serious and systemic non-compliance by Star with Australia’s AML/CTF laws. The allegations are broadly in line with the findings of the first Bell inquiry into Star’s association with organized crime via its partnership with Asian junket operators like Suncity Group. Star’s flagship property, The Star Sydney, has had its license suspended since 2022 as a result.
