Mark McGowan was star guest at $5500 dinner hosted by Crown, while casino was under investigation

Mark McGowan was the star guest at a $5500 dinner hosted by Crown Resorts to raise funds for WA Labor’s re-election — at the same time the casino giant was being investigated for facilitating money laundering in Perth. The West Australian can reveal about 20 business people attended the lavish fundraiser on September 7 last year, including then Crown director John Poynton and Crown’s then chief executive of Australian resorts Barry Felstead. Just three weeks before the dinner, Mr Felstead was grilled over three days at the Bergin inquiry in NSW into the suitability of Crown to operate Sydney’s Barangaroo casino. One month after the fundraiser, Mr Felstead’s job was made redundant. Mr Poynton, Crown’s only Perth-based director, appeared in the witness box on October 1 last year. There were no adverse findings against Mr Poynton, but he resigned after public pressure from the NSW gaming regulator. In January this year, Mr McGowan attended another fundraiser dinner hosted by Crown and Mr Poynton for Labor’s Dawesville candidate Lisa Munday, who went on to unseat WA Liberal leader Zak Kirkup. The next month, the Bergin inquiry found Crown was not suitable to hold a casino licence in Sydney and within days the McGowan Government announced it would launch its own inquiry into the embattled casino operator. Three days after Mr McGowan led Labor to its biggest ever election victory, Crown announced it would stop making political donations. The West Australian yesterday asked the Premier’s office who attended the September 7 fundraiser, how much it raised for Labor and whether there was a conflict. In response, Mr McGowan’s spokesman said: “All political parties fundraise to help pay for election campaigns. WA Labor fundraising events are matters for the party.” WA Labor’s State secretary Tim Picton said: “All WA Labor fundraising events comply with our fundraising code of conduct and relevant electoral laws. “The party provides donation disclosure in accordance with the law.” It comes after the Opposition called on Attorney-General John Quigley to “consider his position” after revelations WA’s top law officer shared a December helicopter ride with Mr Poynton to a party in Yallingup. Annual returns lodged with the WA Electoral Commission show Labor declared $99,551 worth of donations from Crown between 2017 and 2020, with the Liberals declaring $72,000 over the same period. No returns have been lodged for last financial year — which includes the run-up to the election.