Four Corners: May 31

On Monday’s Four Corners, Sean Nicholls reports on “Packer’s Gamble,” a cautionary tale of big money, back room lobbying and political influence.

It began with a discreet meeting and a personal pitch in the home of a powerful media figure, Alan Jones.

“What do you feed a premier and a billionaire?” Reporter, Sean Nicholls

What followed was a textbook example of what big money, back room lobbying and political influence can deliver.

“It seemed to be a political steamroller. It did seem that it had a momentum and having had James Packer behind it and knowing his powerful friends, it seemed to me at the time that this was going to happen.” Former regulator

Crown Sydney was spruiked as a world class six-star resort and VIP casino development destined to become a jewel in the Crown casino empire. But when it finally opened to the public late last year, the man behind the project, gaming tycoon James Packer, was nowhere to be seen and the casino at the heart of the plan was not allowed to operate.

“It seemed to be at times, profit at any cost…they looked like they had things to hide, and they did.” Regulator

Multiple inquiries into Crown’s operations are underway across the country as regulators and royal commissioners examine how the company has conducted itself. The gaming giant is undergoing a corporate makeover in the hope it will be allowed to open the doors of its Sydney casino. It’s all a very long way from the bullish plan launched by James Packer on an unsuspecting city nine years ago.

“All of a sudden you had one of the most connected billionaires in the country, suddenly coming out and saying they wanted to put a billion-dollar casino on the shores of Sydney Harbour. Now that came out of nowhere in the eyes of the general public.” MP

The story of how both the casino licence and the building was approved is a cautionary tale.

“It’s not an iconic building. It’s an iconic representation of a bad process.” Architect

Now, as James Packer prepares to walk away from the casino business he championed, those who fought against Crown and lost say there are lessons to be learned.

“That building should stand there and be a warning to us all…we should look at that building and forever know that we should never let that happen again.” Architect

James Packer is now paying a big price for his high stakes gamble.

“The Crown saga is basically the end of the Packers in Australia.” Finance writer

Monday 31st May at 8.30pm on ABC.