Former Gaming Minister Richard Face gambles and loses

Richard Face, former minister for gaming in the New South Wales government may spend this christmas in jail after being found guilty of making false and misleading statements to the NSW Independent Commission Against Corruption, commonly referred to as ICAC.

ICAC conducted an inquiry into Mr Face's conduct, and their report published in June this year (2004) found that Face had lied about using materials from his parliamentary office to setup a consultancy, that he would operate on his departure from the parliament in March 2003.

The report (available here) recommended that Face be prosecuted for his actions, and as the Sydney Morning Herald reports was found guilty and will be sentenced today.

The case revolves around a letter that Face sent to the inquiry denying the claims made against him in order to try and prevent the inquiry proceeding, however when it did proceed he later admitted using his office for his own personal advantage.

His laywer claimed that Face panicked and therefore should be treated leniently. The prosecutor asked for a jail term saying that since Face had 14 days to respond to the inquiry and had sought advice during this time, he should receive a jail sentence as Face was a public figure in a position of responsibility and an example should be made.

The NSW Opposition have also raised concern that the head and deputy head of the NSW Department of Gaming and Racing were also in attendance at court.

Among those in court were the head of the Department of Gaming and Racing, Ken Brown, and his deputy, Darrell Loewenthal. Mr Brown declined to comment about his attendance.
But the deputy Opposition leader, Barry O'Farrell, said it was "highly inappropriate" for the senior public servants to attend and asked for Face's successor as Gaming Minister, Grant McBride, to explain. The minister's spokesman would make no comment.
"Given that the Face-ICAC saga commenced because of the blurring of lines between public and private duty, the presence of the DG [director-general] and deputy DG of a government department at the proceedings suggest that the lessons have not been learnt," Mr O'Farrell said.

It is important that gaming regulation is seen as being independent and fair especially in an issue that faces so much scrutiny.
Some of these concerns are noted in this Crikey article from February 2003

How can the public have faith in the regulation of gaming when a minister behaves in this way seemingly with the support of the senior public servants reponsible for regulation of gaming?

Gambling can be a grubby business. Sometimes you can't wash it off your Face.

GG

UPDATE: Face was convicted, fined $2000 and placed on a good behaviour bond. Magistrate Pat O'Shane said jail was only required to protect the public and would not be necessary in this case. However she remarked that given his 30 years of public service it was a "substantial penalty" to have a conviction recorded against his name. More.