Star chair David Foster says attack on regulator was 'heat of the moment comments'
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The news: The Star Entertainment chair David Foster has claimed messages sent to the casino’s then-CEO Robbie Cooke around plans to abolish the NSW casino regulator and oust special manager Nicholas Weeks were “heat of the moment comments” and he was “trigger happy”.
The context: Fronting the second inquiry into the Star by the NSW Independent Casino Commission (NICC) as a witness on Tuesday, Foster was asked by Caspar Conde, the counsel assisting the inquiry, whether he wanted the NICC abolished.
“My words were poorly chosen and provided in the heat of the moment. They did not properly reflect the point I was trying to make to Mr Cooke who understood,” Foster said.
Conde then pointed to a message from Foster to Cooke on 23 January 2024 that said: “I’m inclined to send a meeting first … if done right could be a catalyst to get rid of Weeks”.
Foster again said the words used were “in the heat of the moment, and I would have certainly have chosen different words in hindsight”. Foster said the context of those messages was to reduce “complexity” in Weeks' role as the Star’s overall manager and his close focus on NSW, despite the Queensland casino using a different model.
Conde then pointed to messages from Foster to Cooke that said, “They [NICC and Weeks] are prepping for war, we better do that same”, and that he would engage with lawyers from King & Wood Mallesons.
“It was a statement made in the heat of the moment. As I've reflected on it. I was a bit trigger happy with a number of my texts. But as is the case, those immediate emotions were away and we just get on with business as normal. And I do stress that all of my engagement with the regulators and Mr Weeks has always been professional and constructive and focused on same goal,” Foster said.
“... It was in the context of private conversation with one other person that was not involving a broader audience. Again, I regret doing it in the benefit of time, but I think most people would have had that experience at some time. But on reflection that was the wrong thing to do, and was based on the heat of the moment.”
Foster is also the chair of Bendigo and Adelaide Bank and Youi Insurance and is a non-executive director of G8 Education. Last week, Foster requested a leave of absence from his Bendigo chair role.
The Star’s shares were up 1.69% to $0.42 by 2:12pm AEST.
The source: NICC hearing
