IN THE NEWS
McWilliam’s Wines appoints voluntary administrators
McWilliam’s Wines has announced it is struggling to survive after over 140 years of family ownership and has appointed KPMG as voluntary administrators
McWilliam’s is the 6th largest supplier of wines in the country and a major supplier to the club and hotel industry in Australia. The unlisted and publicly owned company’s range includes the McWilliam’s and Mount Pleasant wine brands, and it is the sole Australian distributor for renowned global brands such as Champagne Taittinger, Mateus, and Henkell.
The company’s sales revenue for 2017-18 was $87.4 million, a 13% drop after a series of long running historical losses.
McWilliam’s will continue to operate as normal while the administrators restructure the business and assist in looking for a partner to recapitalise and move the company forward.
New Liquor Laws rolled out in NSW… with no negative effect on society!
Controversial and unpopular lock out laws were rolled out in 2014 in a bid to control drinking related violence across the Sydney CBD and Kings Cross.
The tragic deaths of one-punch victims Thomas Kelly and Daniel Christie provided the catalyst for strict reductions in alcohol sales and licenced drinking and service times. Many believed that the restrictions targeted the wrong issue with many pubs and clubs already using security and responsible service of alcohol regulations to curb in venue issues. The restriction of trade caused by the lockout laws hastened the closure of many restaurants, clubs, and hotels.
While hospitals and emergency service groups campaigned to leave the lock out laws unchanged due to a drop in violent alcohol-related crimes, data has since suggested that the laws just moved the problem to other areas.
On January 14th the lockout laws were lifted everywhere in the Sydney CBD except for Kings Cross and are to be reviewed again next year.
Despite preparing for a significant increase in alcohol fuelled violence on the first weekend after the laws were lifted, NSW police have confirmed, there were no significant incidents reported on Friday and Saturday.
It is hoped that the lifting of the restrictive laws will rejuvenate Sydney nightlife.
Read the full story here>>> https://www.news.com.au/lifestyle/food/restaurants-bars/sydney-nightlife-quiet-as-lockout-laws-end/news-story/dbca630b95f775e8b5041c8c6b645963
To find out if your venue is affected by the new laws click here>>> http://enews.liquorandgaming.nsw.gov.au/pub/pubType/EO/pubID/zzzz5dedbdcae01e3795/?aid=0cf31fbfea002009�cf31fbfea002009
Star Entertainment seeking 30-year Gold Coast monopoly
Star Entertainment is reportedly demanding a 30-year monopoly on casino operations on the Gold Coast if it is to proceed with an AU$2 billion masterplan.
Faced with the prospect of the new Barangaroo Casino opening on their Star Sydney doorstep in 2021, the Star Entertainment group have been heavily defending the Star Gold Coast property in a bid to ensure a second, and largely unnecessary, casino is not built
Star announced in October that it would look at increasing to its masterplan to include the Gold Coast Convention and Exhibition Centre renovation as well as a substantial upgrade of the nearby Sheraton Grand Mirage (purchased in 2017), in return for exclusivity arrangements with the QLD government.
A second casino on the Gold Coast would force The Star GC to heavily defend its market share in the region, with local clubs and pubs ultimately the losers in the battle for the gaming player.
For more details read here>>> https://www.asgam.com/index.php/2019/12/16/australias-star-entertainment-group-seeking-30-year-gold-coast-monopoly/
Two young men accused of $90k gaming chip fraud at Sydney casino
A young gaming supervisor working at Star Sydney casino and a patron known to him have been accused of illegally obtaining more than $90,000 in gaming chips.
The Casino and Racing Unit within the State Crime Command’s Organised Crime Squad began investigating in September after reports of fraudulent activity “between a casino gaming supervisor and a patron”, NSW Police said in a statement today.
“Police will allege in court that the men – who are known to each other – used the younger man’s employment at the casino to facilitate an elaborate scheme and fraudulently obtain more than $90,000 worth of gaming chips in August 2019,” the statement read.
Following months of inquiries, the men, aged 23 and 25, were charged in December with 13 counts each of dishonestly obtaining financial advantage by deception
The charge, considered fraud, carries a maximum penalty in NSW of 10 years behind bars.
Police have labelled the alleged scheme as “professionally facilitated fraudulent activity”.
They are both due to face Downing Centre Local Court in Sydney.
