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From the Australian

Ex-Star CEO loses consultancy role

Star executive chairman David Foster says former chief executive Robbie Cooke's consultancy agreement was terminated on April 18 following the start of the Bell Inquiry II.

Mr Foster was asked by counsel assisting the inquiry Caspar Conde whether the termination followed a view established by Star that Mr Cooke had given incorrect answers to the regulator and the inquiry about the resignation of chief legal officer Betty Ivanoff.

Mr Foster said "he did not personally have a view on that" but Mr Cooke's continued role with Star was "becoming complex with some of the comments made at the inquiry".

Ms Ivanoff told the inquiry last week that there was a dispute with Mr Cooke about the date she officially handed in her resignation.

Star chair's 'trigger happy' regulator comments

Star executive chairman David Foster has admitted he was "trigger happy" in messages to former chief executive Robbie Cooke that claimed the regulator was "prepping for war" and should be abolished.

Mr Foster told the Bell Inquiry II that the text messages to Mr Cooke also stated he was looking at a "catalyst" to get rid of NICC appointed special manager Nicholas Weeks.

"These were words chosen in the heat of the moment," Mr Foster told the inquiry on Tuesday. "I admit some of my messages were trigger happy."

Counsel assisting the inquiry Caspar Conde suggested to Mr Foster that instead of trying to "get rid" of Mr Weeks, he should have concentrated on more substantive issues involving the casino.

Mr Foster denied he was monitoring the electronic diary of Mr Weeks, including a meeting earlier this year with lawyers, saying he received an automatic alert to the meeting through the Star booking system.

When alerted to the meeting, Mr Foster messaged Mr Cooke that "they are prepping for war". Mr Conde asked Mr Foster asked whether 'prepping for war' was the opposite of co-operating with the NICC.

He also conceded a plan to launch a shareholder class action against Mr Weeks and the regulator was a "bizarre" idea.

Star chair wanted to abolish NICC

Star Entertainment Group executive chairman David Foster has admitted he wanted to abolish the NSW Independent Casino Commission (NICC).

Mr Foster told the Bell Inquiry II that the comment contained in a text message to former chief executive Robbie Cooke last year was made in the "heat of the moment."

He said the context of his comment was that there was a need for a single regulator to cover both clubs and hotels to create a "level playing" field.

Counsel assisting the inquiry Caspar Conde said the messages were contrary to his public statements that he was co-operating with the NICC.