Fishing friendship approved by ex-casino boss, Commission told

The man described as the “primary interface” between Crown Perth and the government body overseeing its operations has been grilled about his relationship with the state’s chief casino officer during today’s Perth Casino Royal Commission.

Paul Hulme, who served as Crown Perth’s gaming and regulatory compliance manager for more than 12 years until his retirement in 2019, was quizzed about his close relationship with the state’s chief casino officer Michael Connolly.

He and Mr Connolly had formed a friendship after working together at the Department of Racing, Gaming and Liquor and took several weekend fishing trips and even skydived together between 2013 and 2019.

Mr Connolly stepped aside in February this year amid allegations that he maintained friendships with Crown staff, including hosting boat trips.

The relationship was the subject of an internal review launched by Crown that same month at the request of outgoing Crown Resorts chair Helen Coonan and today confirmed he was aware of and had even been interviewed as part of the probe.

Today’s commission hearing covered email correspondence between Mr Hulme and Mr Connolly, including the sale of a large boat and arranging various fishing trips with Mr Connolly.

Although he admitted to arranging social outings during work time, Mr Hulme insisted that the pair didn’t talk about work during their trips.

The commission heard Crown manager of legal and compliance Claude Marais approached former Crown Resorts chief executive Barry Felstead and Crown's chief legal officer Joshua Preston about the relationship, but Mr Hulme claims neither party ever told him the friendship should stop, nor did they suggest it was “inappropriate”.

When quizzed about whether he believed the close relationship he held with Mr Connolly benefited the casino license operator, he told the commission: 

“I think the fact that I knew of a number of offices in the department, including Mick [Michael Connolly], made my ability to communicate with them easier,” he told the commission.

Mr Marais defended Mr Hulme when he took the stand earlier this month, telling the commission he believed Mr Hulme to have the highest level of integrity and that he had no concerns about the nature of his relationship with Mr Connolly.

“I did not see --- a person can have a friendship --- a friendship is how it is managed and how people conduct themselves,” he said.