Crown Resorts director Andrew Demetriou has been criticised for his use of notes as he gave evidence to an inquiry into the company's suitability to operate a new Sydney premises.
Mr Demetriou admitted on Monday to reading from prepared notes when asked about the role of independent directors. His notes were taken and produced into evidence.
On Tuesday morning, counsel assisting the inquiry, Scott Aspinall, identified numerous similarities between words used by Mr Demetriou in answers given to the inquiry on Monday and language in the notes.
"Oh Mr Demetriou, why did you do it?" exclaimed inquiry commissioner Patricia Bergin during Mr Demetriou's questioning on the notes.
Mr Demetriou agreed that some of the words used in his answers were the same as appeared in the notes, but denied reading from them beyond the instance he had already admitted.
"You see how it looks. You've got notes that translate into the transcript, that looks like you've been prompted by them, doesn't it?", Ms Bergin asked.
Mr Demetriou said he had not disclosed his possession of notes to his own lawyer.
"If you had just given the documents to your silk and to the inquiry, this embarrassing line of questioning would not have happened, do you understand that?" Ms Bergin asked.
"Yes, Madam Commissioner," Mr Demetriou responded.
Mr Demetriou defended the Crown on Monday from accusations it turned a blind eye to money laundering, saying he would stand by the company's description of media reporting as "a deceitful campaign against Crown".
The inquiry is looking at Crown's fitness to open a casino at Sydney's Barangaroo, following media allegations its current sites have facilitated organised crime and money laundering.
Mr Demetriou also defended his sharing of Crown information with major shareholder James Packer after the billionaire had stepped down from the board.
Mr Packer admitted to the inquiry last week that he would not return to the boardroom and might have to sell some of his shareholding in the company.
He described the inquiry's revelations as a "terribly painful and shocking experience for the board" and for him.
Crown chair and former Australian senator Helen Coonan is also due to give evidence to the inquiry in coming days.
