thylacine60
Post-Human
- Banned
- #1
http://www.news.com.au/heraldsun/story/0,21985,23534162-661,00.html
Patrick! Here boy!
CARLTON'S billionaire president, Richard Pratt faces being hauled before a public hearing over his fitness to hold a gaming licence.
The Herald Sun has learned the Victorian Commission for Gambling Regulation is just days away from completing an investigation into Mr Pratt's fitness to oversee a suburban pokies operation.
Carlton operates two suburban gaming venues and plans to expand.
A government source has revealed Mr Pratt may be forced to appear before a VCGR appeal panel as early as next month.
But he said the grilling would only go ahead if the commission's preliminary probe found Mr Pratt to be an unsuitable gaming industry associate.
"They haven't made a decision on that yet," the source said.
Mr Pratt's hold on the Blues presidency has been under fierce scrutiny since his cardboard company, Visy, was fined $36 million last November over an illegal price-fixing cartel, the biggest in Australian corporate history.
An angry Mr Pratt yesterday hit out at critics of his presidency amid growing speculation senior AFL chiefs were agitating for his removal.
"I challenge the AFL to set the record straight once and for all," Mr Pratt said before yesterday's Carlton-Collingwood clash at the MCG.
"If they have a problem with me staying on as president of the Carlton Football Club, let them come out and say so.
"If they don't have a problem, then let them be unequivocal about it, then put the matter to rest.
It is believed the Blues have been busy investigating ways to head off the VCGR probe, including a plan to transfer ownership of its poker machines to a separate entity with direct links to the Carlton Football Club.
Such a move could spare Mr Pratt the need to get government probity but allow pokies profits to keep pouring into club coffers.
The club's 100 pokies are divided between its MC Labour Park home ground at Parkville and a Laverton gaming venue.
Mr Pratt is Australia's fourth-richest man with a personal fortune of more than $5 billion.
Carlton's fortunes have turned around dramatically since his election as president in February last year, with the club announcing a $3 million profit for season 2007.
It is law for all board members of AFL clubs with poker machines to be assessed as people of "good repute, having regard to character, honesty and integrity".
Mr Pratt was last November branded the worst price-fixer in Australia's history.
Federal Court judge Peter Heerey said the cartel run by Visy and rival box-maker Amcor ran for almost five years, and would probably still be flourishing if it had not been accidentally exposed.
"There cannot be any doubt that Mr Pratt knew that the cartel to which he gave his approval . . . was seriously unlawful," Justice Heerey said.
Mr Pratt again apologised yesterday for the actions of his company.
"I am ultimately responsible for the actions of the complete Visy organisation and I regret not moving quicker to put in place systems and procedures to ensure this never happened," Mr Pratt said.
"Not knowing this was the case is no excuse and I have paid the fine of the ACCC, and have now installed a new advisory and governance board to ensure it never happens again."
Patrick! Here boy!
CARLTON'S billionaire president, Richard Pratt faces being hauled before a public hearing over his fitness to hold a gaming licence.
The Herald Sun has learned the Victorian Commission for Gambling Regulation is just days away from completing an investigation into Mr Pratt's fitness to oversee a suburban pokies operation.
Carlton operates two suburban gaming venues and plans to expand.
A government source has revealed Mr Pratt may be forced to appear before a VCGR appeal panel as early as next month.
But he said the grilling would only go ahead if the commission's preliminary probe found Mr Pratt to be an unsuitable gaming industry associate.
"They haven't made a decision on that yet," the source said.
Mr Pratt's hold on the Blues presidency has been under fierce scrutiny since his cardboard company, Visy, was fined $36 million last November over an illegal price-fixing cartel, the biggest in Australian corporate history.
An angry Mr Pratt yesterday hit out at critics of his presidency amid growing speculation senior AFL chiefs were agitating for his removal.
"I challenge the AFL to set the record straight once and for all," Mr Pratt said before yesterday's Carlton-Collingwood clash at the MCG.
"If they have a problem with me staying on as president of the Carlton Football Club, let them come out and say so.
"If they don't have a problem, then let them be unequivocal about it, then put the matter to rest.
It is believed the Blues have been busy investigating ways to head off the VCGR probe, including a plan to transfer ownership of its poker machines to a separate entity with direct links to the Carlton Football Club.
Such a move could spare Mr Pratt the need to get government probity but allow pokies profits to keep pouring into club coffers.
The club's 100 pokies are divided between its MC Labour Park home ground at Parkville and a Laverton gaming venue.
Mr Pratt is Australia's fourth-richest man with a personal fortune of more than $5 billion.
Carlton's fortunes have turned around dramatically since his election as president in February last year, with the club announcing a $3 million profit for season 2007.
It is law for all board members of AFL clubs with poker machines to be assessed as people of "good repute, having regard to character, honesty and integrity".
Mr Pratt was last November branded the worst price-fixer in Australia's history.
Federal Court judge Peter Heerey said the cartel run by Visy and rival box-maker Amcor ran for almost five years, and would probably still be flourishing if it had not been accidentally exposed.
"There cannot be any doubt that Mr Pratt knew that the cartel to which he gave his approval . . . was seriously unlawful," Justice Heerey said.
Mr Pratt again apologised yesterday for the actions of his company.
"I am ultimately responsible for the actions of the complete Visy organisation and I regret not moving quicker to put in place systems and procedures to ensure this never happened," Mr Pratt said.
"Not knowing this was the case is no excuse and I have paid the fine of the ACCC, and have now installed a new advisory and governance board to ensure it never happens again."
