Latest news with #PaulPapalia
Perth Now
5 days ago
- Perth Now
WATCH: Secret casino busted inside suburban Perth home
Eighteen people including a security guard and Crown Casino employee have been busted mid-game at an alleged illegal casino operating out of a suburban home. Authorities burst through the door to find players, organisers and security in the middle of a game of Baccarat inside a Marangaroo home in Perth's north. Police from the Transnational Serious Organised Crime Squad and investigators from Racing, Gaming and Liquor uncovered the operation in April. Gaming chips, a card dealing shoe and more than $83,000 in cash were seized from the operation. Authorities also found a professional-grade table and an electronic display showing the results from previous games played. Authorities seized more than $83,000 in cash from the alleged operation. Credit: Supplied A Racing, Gaming and Liquor spokesman said the Crown Perth employee was allegedly acting as a dealer at the illegal casino and his licence has now been suspended by the Gaming and Wagering Commission. A police spokesman said no one has been charged and investigations were ongoing. It is the fourth raid carried out in Perth since 2023, resulting in other casino dealers losing their licence, action being taken against organisers and almost $300,000 seized during the raids. Authorities burst through the door to find 18 people including players, organisers, security and a Crown Casino employee allegedly in the middle of an illegal game of Baccarat. Credit: Supplied In July, three men were fined $25,000 in the Perth Magistrates Court after a raid at an unlawful gaming house in Mount Lawley seized about $130,000 in cash. Racing and Gaming Minister Paul Papalia said authorities would not stop dismantling illegal gambling networks. 'We're not targeting casual poker nights - these are professional setups, often tied to organised crime, which is why we're cracking down,' he said. 'People involved risk criminal charges, and licensed dealers will lose both their licence and their job.' Racing and Gaming Minister Paul Papalia said illegal casinos were not casual poker nights - these were professional setups, often tied to organised crime. NewsWire /Philip Gostelow Credit: NCA NewsWire Gaming and Wagering Commission chair Gary Dreibers said they relied on the police and regulator to find illegal gambling houses and stamp them out to ensure that gaming and wagering operated lawfully and ethically. 'It's well known that these unlawful casinos are used by people betting with money derived from criminal activities and attract players who have been banned from Perth's casino for various reasons,' he said. 'Authorities will continue to be vigilant and work co-operatively to disrupt these illegal gambling activities, so we warn potential event organisers and participants to think twice as we could soon be knocking on their door.' Police Minister Reece Whitby said stopping illegal gaming events sent a message to the people who were participating or thinking about participating in unlawful gambling operations 'The Cook Government is committed to removing these illegal makeshift casinos from the WA community because the consequences are serious,' he said. 'Anyone thinking of organising or playing in the unlawful gambling networks should expect the WA Police Forces' Transnational Serious Organised Crime Squad to knock on your door because they're often linked to organised crime.'
News.com.au
5 days ago
- News.com.au
Crown Casino employee and security guard allegedly busted at a makeshift casino operating out of a suburban Perth home
Eighteen people including a security guard and Crown Casino employee have been busted mid-game at an alleged illegal casino operating out of a suburban home. Authorities burst through the door to find players, organisers and security in the middle of a game of Baccarat inside a Marangaroo home in Perth's north. Police from the Transnational Serious Organised Crime Squad and investigators from Racing, Gaming and Liquor uncovered the operation in April. Gaming chips, a card dealing shoe and more than $83,000 in cash were seized from the operation. Authorities also found a professional-grade table and an electronic display showing the results from previous games played. A Racing, Gaming and Liquor spokesman said the Crown Perth employee was allegedly acting as a dealer at the illegal casino and his licence has now been suspended by the Gaming and Wagering Commission. A police spokesman said no one has been charged and investigations were ongoing. It is the fourth raid carried out in Perth since 2023, resulting in other casino dealers losing their licence, action being taken against organisers and almost $300,000 seized during the raids. In July, three men were fined $25,000 in the Perth Magistrates Court after a raid at an unlawful gaming house in Mount Lawley seized about $130,000 in cash. Racing and Gaming Minister Paul Papalia said authorities would not stop dismantling illegal gambling networks. 'We're not targeting casual poker nights - these are professional setups, often tied to organised crime, which is why we're cracking down,' he said. 'People involved risk criminal charges, and licensed dealers will lose both their licence and their job.' Gaming and Wagering Commission chair Gary Dreibers said they relied on the police and regulator to find illegal gambling houses and stamp them out to ensure that gaming and wagering operated lawfully and ethically. 'It's well known that these unlawful casinos are used by people betting with money derived from criminal activities and attract players who have been banned from Perth's casino for various reasons,' he said. 'Authorities will continue to be vigilant and work co-operatively to disrupt these illegal gambling activities, so we warn potential event organisers and participants to think twice as we could soon be knocking on their door.' Police Minister Reece Whitby said stopping illegal gaming events sent a message to the people who were participating or thinking about participating in unlawful gambling operations 'The Cook Government is committed to removing these illegal makeshift casinos from the WA community because the consequences are serious,' he said. 'Anyone thinking of organising or playing in the unlawful gambling networks should expect the WA Police Forces' Transnational Serious Organised Crime Squad to knock on your door because they're often linked to organised crime.'
ABC News
5 days ago
- ABC News
Labor minister Stephen Dawson's jet makes "emergency landing" in Geraldton
A government jet carrying the Regional Development Minister has had to make an emergency landing in Geraldton after circling and burning fuel. Labor minister Stephen Dawson, as well as a staffer and crew, were on board the Hawker 850-XP flying from Perth to Carnarvon. It was due to land in the Gascoyne town at 9am. However, something went wrong during the trip and the plane was diverted to Geraldton for an "emergency landing". It circled the ocean off Carnarvon before diverting to Geraldton, almost 500 kilometres south, where it did several circles over the regional city before landing safely two hours late. "We had firefighters on stand-by but they weren't required. I don't know much more than that," Emergency Services Minister Paul Papalia said. "It's a frightening event no doubt, so it's good to know they're all alright. "I imagine there's been some damage to the aircraft, because it was not a conventional landing. "I think they were there for sometime burning fuel in advance of the landing."
West Australian
05-08-2025
- Business
- West Australian
Billions of dollars and thousands of jobs for WA in defence industry manufacturing
Billions of dollars and thousands of jobs will bolster and diversify WA's economy when manufacturing begins on the Royal Australian Navy's new frigate fleet at Henderson, according to the Premier. The State-owned Australian Marine Complex, south of Perth, will become home to a Commonwealth Defence Precinct to manufacture the eight Mogami-class frigates, and serve as a hub for continuous naval shipbuilding. 'This is the single biggest defence agreement ever struck between Japan and Australia and Western Australia is at the heart of it,' Premier Roger Cook said. 'We know that what we will see with the engagement of the Japanese in relation to this construction program is that they will seek to integrate Western Australian companies into their overall supply chains. 'Not only will you see great outcomes in terms of ship construction, you'll see great outcomes in terms of allied companies, which can feed into that overall supply chain.' Defence Industries Minister Paul Papalia said the AMC was already equipped to deliver the new frigate fleet, and there was a skilled workforce capable of delivering the project. 'Austal are building in Western Australia the evolved Cape-class and Pacific patrol boats. Civmec are building the offshore patrol vessels, and we have people engaged in similar tasks for maintenance of naval ships. 'All of that workforce are highly skilled and capable of doing very similar jobs, similar roles that they'll be required to do for building frigates.' The Cook Government is investing into the Department of Training and Workforce Development to ensure a pipeline of skilled workers will be available to meet future demands for the defence industry. 'In the near term, there's a workforce that is capable and available,' Mr Papalia said. 'We've got to grow the scale of what we have in terms of numbers over time. We're talking tens of thousands of more jobs.' In addition to ship manufacturing, the Navy's soon to be acquired conventionally armed, nuclear-powered submarines will be maintained and housed in WA. The Federal Government has committed about $8 billion towards expanding HMAS Stirling including wharf upgrades and construction of maintenance, logistics and training facilities. About 3500 jobs are expected to be generated over the next decade from the project.
West Australian
29-07-2025
- Business
- West Australian
Paul Papalia warns WA businesses ‘should be alert to the threat' of buying Russian goods
Paul Papalia warns WA businesses 'should be alert to the threat' of buying Russian goods
