As strikes ripple through star entertainment’s brisbane casino, growing unrest among frontline workers is now raising red flags far beyond the gaming floor — particularly with major equity partners eyeing the exit door.
After hundreds of employees walked off the job in march 2024 to protest wage stagnation and proposed cuts to sunday penalty rates, negotiations have stalled once again. union leaders say frustration is mounting over a 4% pay offer spread across three years, calling it “insulting” amid australia’s deepening cost-of-living crisis. the unrest comes on the heels of star’s $4 billion move into queen’s wharf, a move that hasn’t trickled down to better pay for hospitality or gaming staff.
But it’s not just bartenders and dealers watching. equity giants chow tai fook enterprises and far east consortium — core players in a proposed buyout deal — have reportedly signaled discomfort with star’s internal turbulence. sources close to the negotiation table suggest both investors may pull the plug if labor instability persists into the second half of 2025.
Insulting offer sparks first-ever strike at Star Brisbane Casino
A sustained pattern of industrial action could deal a major blow to star’s already fragile brand. analysts warn that if the consortium withdraws, it could unravel not just the buyout but key financial structures underpinning queen’s wharf and star’s broader Queensland operations.
Queensland premier David Crisafulli has urged parties to resolve the dispute swiftly, citing growing concerns over job security, economic stability, and reputational damage.
with frontline staff feeling squeezed and shareholders fearing long-term losses, star brisbane’s labor crisis is no longer just a payroll issue — it’s an existential one.
