Crown Casino Private Jets
| Kakavas v Crown Melbourne Ltd | |
|---|---|
| Court | High Court of Australia |
| Full case name | Kakavas v Crown Melbourne Ltd |
| Decided | 5 June 2013 |
| Citation(s) | [2013] HCA 25; 250 CLR 392 |
| Case history | |
| Prior action(s) | Kakavas v Crown Melbourne Ltd[2009] VSC 559 Kakavas v Crown Melbourne Ltd[2012] VSCA 95 |
| Subsequent action(s) | none |
| Court membership | |
| Judge(s) sitting | French CJ, Hayne, Crennan, Kiefel, Bell, Gageler and Keane JJ |
Kakavas v Crown Melbourne Ltd & Ors [2013] HCA 25 is a landmarkAustralianjudgment of the High Court.[1] The matter related to claims that casino had taken unfair or unconscientious advantage of the opportunity created by a patron's special disadvantage, being a gambling problem.[2]
Harry Kakavas a known problem gambler who had a gambling turnover of $1.5 billion and losses of $20.5 million claimed Melbourne's Crown Casino had engaged in unconscionable conduct by 'luring' him into the casino with incentives and the use of the casino's private jet.[3] In earlier proceedings it had also been claimed that a duty of care was owed by Crown to a patron with a gambling problem[4] and that Crown lured or enticed him into its casino.[5][6]
The High Court, in a joint judgement, approved the observation by the primary judge that '[i]n the absence of a relevant legislative provision, there is no general duty upon a casino to protect gamblers from themselves.'[7] The Court found that Mr Kakavas wasn't at a special disadvantage which made him susceptible to exploitation by Crown and was able to make rational decisions in his own interests, including deciding from time to time to refrain from gambling altogether. Crown did not knowingly victimise Mr Kavakas by allowing him to gamble at its casino.[8]
Crown Casino has been in the spotlight over money laundering allegations and criminal links to its lucrative junket operations. Junket operators recruit cashed-up foreign punters to visit Crown, often arriving in private jets and they gamble in special private rooms at the casino. Mr Wong is understood to have travelled as a junket guest. Mr Ratnam revealed to the inquiry that he had also discussed with another CPH executive, Matthew Csidei, a plan to remove the Crown logos from the casino company’s private jets used for Chinese. Crown use a specialist events team with close to thirty years experience and a reputation for leading the event staging and management industry. Click for details; For Event Planners; For an unforgettable experience, the world-class venues at Crown Events & Conferences are a clear choice for your next conference or event in Melbourne.
References[edit]
- ^Kakavas v Crown Melbourne Limited[2013] HCA 25judgement summary at High Court of Australia Website.
- ^Kakavas v Crown Melbourne Limited[2013] HCA 25 at [5].
- ^Kakavas v Crown Melbourne Limited[2013] HCA 25 at [3] and [27].
- ^Kakavas v Crown Melbourne Ltd[2009] VSC 559at [436].
- ^Kakavas v Crown Melbourne Limited[2013] HCA 25 at [5].
- ^Heath Aston (5 June 2013). 'Casino did not exploit man who spent $1.5b, rules High Court'. Brisbane Times.
- ^Kakavas v Crown Melbourne Limited[2013] HCA 25 at [26].
- ^Kakavas v Crown Melbourne Limited[2013] HCA 25 at [135].
Despite the Labor Party often struggling to prosecute integrity questions against the Coalition, it has been revealed owners of private luxury jets were receiving a portion of...
Despite the Labor Party often struggling to prosecute integrity questions against the Coalition, it has been revealed owners of private luxury jets were receiving a portion of the government's $715 million stimulus package for the aviation sector.
Labor MP Catherine King says billionaire Clive Palmer has benefited from aviation fees being waived. Picture: Shae BeplateSource:News Regional Media
Deputy Prime Minister Michael McCormack has defended a decision to waive thousands of dollars worth of aviation fees for private jets.
Labor has this week grilled Mr McCormack over the support for the aviation industry, which it says has given concessions to billionaire Clive Palmer to fly around in luxury jets.
The line of attack follows new documents – released during estimates on Tuesday – that show Mr Palmer’s company Mineralogy had $40,377 in air service charges waived under a support package for struggling airlines.
“The Deputy Prime Minister justified giving tens of thousands of dollars to the owners of private jets because they helped ensure frontline medical personnel could get around the country,” Labor MP Catherine King said during Question Time.
“How many frontline medical personnel did billionaire Clive Palmer carry on his luxury private jet?”
Transport Minister Michael McCormack has defended support for the aviation industry during Question Time. Picture: NCA NewsWire/Gary RamageSource:News Corp Australia
But Mr McCormack backed his aviation support package saying it “did not discriminate”.
“The shadow minister supported that … but does not obviously support it now,” he said.
“The Royal Flying Doctor Service is also a beneficiary.
“I am asked about the importance and what has transpired with charter flights, and I have said all along, repeatedly, ad nauseam that planes in the air means jobs on the ground.”
Mr McCormack said every commercial flight required at least one pilot, one cabin crew, one ground crew, an airport reporting officer, an air traffic controller, a firefighter, one airline operations worker and someone to refuel.
“I am proud of the fact we have put in place $2.7 billion to help the aviation sector,” Mr McCormack said.
“I’m proud of all the measures that were put in place in the budget for regional Australia and to help those transport links.”
Catherine King reacts during Question Time in the House of Representatives. Picture Gary RamageSource:Supplied
Royal Flying Doctor Services in South Australia, Western Australia, NSW and Queensland had more than $1.2 million worth of combined air services charges waived.
However, Ms King said when Labor called for the Morrison Government to come up with a plan for aviation, it didn’t mean a plan for private jets.
Crown Casino Private Jets Darnold
“Through the Morrison Government’s aviation support package, tens of thousands of dollars have been delivered through air services charge rebates to Crown Casino, Clive Palmer’s Mineralogy, Leppington Pastoral Company and other members of Australia’s business and financial elite,” Ms King said on Tuesday.