By Roy Ward
Lawyers for Wayne Carey will investigate a possible disability discrimination claim against Perth’s Crown Casino.
Josh Bornstein of Maurice Blackburn lawyers has been retained by the retired AFL star after he was escorted out of the venue last Thursday night when a small bag containing a white powder fell out of his pocket.
Wayne Carey says the powder that fell out of his pocket at a Perth casino is not illegal.Credit:AAP
Carey, 51, maintains the bag contained a small amount of anti-inflammatory medication, branded Aleve, which he takes regularly for pain-killing purposes and consumes with dinner.
“We are considering whether Crown Casino unlawfully discriminated against Mr Carey by excluding him from its premises as a result of a pre-existing disability,” Mr Bornstein said.
The law firm made a statement on behalf of Carey on Wednesday afternoon, announcing their plans and stating Carey had a replacement shoulder and procedures to replace three discs in his neck due to injuries from his AFL career.
“Wayne Carey has retained leading workplace lawyer Josh Bornstein from Maurice Blackburn Lawyers to investigate a possible disability discrimination claim against Perth’s Crown Casino after the AFL great was required to leave Crown’s premises last Thursday night,” the law firm said in a statement.
“Mr Carey was ejected after Casino authorities saw a bag containing a white substance and despite Mr Carey’s denial made an incorrect assumption that the bag contained an illegal drug.
“Mr Carey is prescribed anti-inflammatories and pain-killing medicine to help manage the significant pain caused by debilitating football injuries – including a shoulder that needs replacing and a neck injury that requires three discs to be replaced.
“Mr Carey is distressed that the casino actions have led to media attention leaving the public to also wrongly assume the bag contained an illegal drug. He has also indicated that he would welcome a police investigation.”
WA Police were not called on the night but have since started an investigation into the incident but commissioner Col Branch said on Wednesday his detectives were on the “backfoot” due to not being called at the time.
A Crown spokesperson said on the night its team acted to its standard procedures but would review the incident.
“Our team acted in accordance with our standard procedures. However, we will review those procedures following the incident to ensure we continually improve these processes,” the spokesperson said.
“We are assisting them with their investigation and will be supplying CCTV vision to them. Crown Perth has also been in contact with the Gaming and Wagering Commission.”
Carey has been stood down from commentating this weekend’s AFL semi-finals by Channel Seven as it conducts an investigation into the incident.
Radio station Triple M has also taken Carey off all on-air duties until all investigations are concluded.
Carey is also a contributing columnist for The Age, and editor Gay Alcorn said there was no reason to suspend Carey from his weekly column at this stage.
“He denies the suggestion he was carrying an illegal substance and investigations are ongoing. We will closely monitor the situation,” Alcorn said.
Keep up to date with the best AFL coverage in the country. Sign up for the Real Footy newsletter.
