NSW Independent Liquor and Gaming Authority calls for Crown Resorts director John Poynton to resign

John Poynton has officially been given his marching orders by the NSW gaming regulator, after it flagged concerns over his intentions to remain on the board of Crown Resorts against its wishes. The West Australian can reveal the NSW Independent Liquor and Gaming Authority on Wednesday wrote to Crown’s executive chairman Helen Coonan seeking the Perth-based director’s resignation. The request related to both of Mr Poynton’s positions as a director of Crown Resorts and as Crown Perth chairman. But the prominent local businessman is digging his heels in and relying on the support of former judge Patricia Bergin, who said Mr Poynton would be needed in her NSW casino inquiry report. ILGA said it was unable to provide any comment when asked if it had requested Mr Poynton’s resignation from Ms Coonan. Mr Poynton, also a member of the Future Fund Board of Guardians, is the only Crown director still clinging to his seat after being targeted by ILGA’s chairman Philip Crawford. Mr Crawford last week said Mr Poynton’s resignation was a “pretty key issue” and told Ms Coonan “his involvement needs to cease”. Mr Poynton said he had been forwarded a letter from Ms Coonan but had not heard directly from Mr Crawford or ILGA. Harold Mitchell was the fourth director to resign from Crown’s board last week after a scathing report by Ms Bergin found the James Packer-backed company unfit to hold a casino licence in NSW. The report — which alleged Crown facilitated money laundering at its Perth and Melbourne casinos — resulted in WA’s Gaming and Wagering Commission recommending an independent inquiry to investigate Crown Perth. It also saw Mr Packer’s private company Consolidated Press Holdings sever a consultancy agreement with Mr Poynton in a bid to distance Mr Packer from Crown’s board. Mr Crawford said he would investigate whether it was appropriate for Mr Poynton to continue as an independent director amid concern about his association with Mr Packer. He has warned Crown will not receive a licence to run its Sydney casino until he is satisfied “renewal” of the board is complete. Mr Poynton said he was keen to understand the “divergence of position” between Ms Bergin and Mr Crawford. He referred to a passage from Ms Bergin’s report, where she noted Mr Poynton’s “commitment and contribution” would be “integral” to Crown’s future success as a close associate of the licensee of its new Sydney casino. Mr Poynton has also asked Melbourne lawyer Tim L’Estrange, partner-in-charge at Jones Day and the former general counsel and company secretary at ANZ Bank, to advise him ahead of the fight to retain his position on Crown’s board. It comes as Crown on Wednesday made good on its promise to ban junkets at Crown Perth ahead of the WA inquiry.