In a statement this morning, the NZX said after Austrac proceedings it considered Hamilton’s position and could no longer endorse him as proposed chair as long as proceedings were unresolved.
“As a result of Mr Hamilton no longer being the proposed successor to the chair, Mr Hamilton has resigned as an NZX Director with immediate effect to help NZX move forward without any distractions relating to this matter,” the company added.
“The NZX board took time to carefully consider the matter,” a spokesman said when asked why it took four months after the Austrac allegations. “Ultimately it was Rob’s decision to resign as a director.”
Hamilton said he was “naturally disappointed” with the NZX board’s decision given the facts of the situation.
“The Austrac claim is not against me personally. I am not involved in any way in the claim, nor do I expect to be.”
The Austrac proceedings focus on laws aimed at preventing money laundering.
Hamilton said he was never responsible for the Adelaide casino operations during his time as SkyCity’s Chief Financial Officer.
He said prior to being appointed as a director of NZX he satisfied NZX’s “fit and proper” assessment.
“After the Austrac claim was filed in December 2022, NZX reviewed its ‘Fit and Proper’ evaluation and confirmed its original assessment,” he added.
“This change with NZX doesn’t impact any of my other board positions or consultancy work.”
James Miller will continue in the chair role until a new chair is appointed.
Austrac has alleged SkyCity Adelaide allowed some customers to spend “dirty money” that seemed to have been wet and previously buried.
The agency alleged some customers posing a high money laundering or terrorism financing risk engaged in big-time cash transactions, allegedly using cash in plastic bags, garbage bags, and cash bundled together with rubber bands or irregular straps.
