Stinging criticism levelled at Racing NSW, government
The lack of transparency and renewal of the Racing NSW leadership has once again been called into question, with the state’s breeders’ body reaffirming its immense criticism of the state government and its handling of the thoroughbred regulator’s board.
NSW Racing Minister David Harris confirmed on Wednesday that he had ticked off an independent panel’s recommendation that will see former NSW Racing Minister and Labor MP Kevin Greene be returned to the board for a second time, replacing the ousted former chair Russell Balding.
The push to extend Balding’s time on the board to a record 14 years was late last year abandoned by the state government following a severe politically damaging public backlash.
NSW Racing Minister Harris also announced that acting Racing NSW chair Dr Saranne Cooke, who replaced Balding, has officially been appointed to lead the board.
And on the same day as the long-awaited board and chair announcements were made in NSW, Wednesday’s dramatic Racing Victoria special general meeting, which was called after sustained dissatisfaction from sections of the state’s racing industry about the direction it was heading, ultimately proved unsuccessful for those agitating for change.
The almost hour-long meeting saw five motions to unseat five RV directors defeated.
Under pressure Racing Victoria chief executive Andrew Jones, the target of stinging criticism since his appointment to the role in July 2022, could fall on his sword despite the unsuccessful push to overturn the RV board.
Thoroughbred Breeders NSW (TBNSW) president Hamish Esplin, whose organisation last campaigned against the extension to Balding’s tenure, slammed Greene’s appointment for another stint at Racing NSW.
“I can’t say that I’m surprised at the announcement for the reappointment of an ex-board member. TBNSW has gone on record that the attitude towards corporate governance at Racing NSW and the selection of members to that body has been poor for a long time,” said Esplin who qualified that he had not met Greene and nor was he levelling personal criticism towards him.
“We wrote to the then minister [the Coalition’s Kevin Anderson] when they extended the terms from ten to 12 [years]. We again wrote to the now minister last year about the proposed further extension which led to a farcical political scene which cast a very poor light on the machinations surrounding Racing NSW and its leadership.
“And yet we now learn that out of all the candidates who applied to go on Racing NSW, the best candidate is the person who sat on it previously for [seven] years.
“Is the government seriously saying to the industry that the best person that they could find would have applied to be a member of the board was an older person representing the same demographic that has constituted Racing NSW for a long time?
“How can Racing NSW expect the industry to believe that they are committed to what their stated ambitions are and that is to rejuvenate, refresh, inspire and modernise the industry when those that are charged with making the decisions fall into the same category we had to put up with for over a decade?
“Where are the younger demographic, the female demographic or the non-corporate Sydney background people meant to be able to find an avenue to be able to participate in the leadership of the thoroughbred industry in NSW?”
Incoming RNSW director Greene served on the thoroughbred body board for seven years between 2011 and 2018, overseeing a period of significant growth in prize-money for the state’s racing industry under long-serving chief executive Peter V’landys.
Since Greene’s initial term at RNSW, V’landys has been elected as the Australian Rugby League Commission chair.
Greene on Wednesday defended the criticism of his reappointment, believing he had been “out of” the industry and the board long enough to offer a fresh set of eyes to the governance and direction of racing in NSW.
He told ANZ Bloodstock News: “Well, I have been out of it for the last five years, so I would like to think that the panel who chose me felt that I had the skills that are required and I’ll be doing my best with my abilities to make a contribution.”
Questioned whether V’landys may be asked to decide between his roles at RNSW and as chair of the Australian Rugby League Commision, Greene said: “That is a decision for him to make. That hasn’t been the case as far as I am aware [the RNSW board has made V’landys choose].”
Himself, a director representing the metropolitan members on the board of NSW Rugby League and a board member of Cricket NSW, Greene too said he would be able to adequately manage his own varied professional commitments in addition to taking on the RNSW directorship.
Only last week, Greene was also reappointed as chair of the NSWRL Referees Association.
“I am involved in a number of organisations and I certainly believe that I have time to devote to all of those. [They are] across a wide variety of sports and charitable organisations,” Greene said.
“I would like to think that I can make a positive contribution.”
Esplin does not hold out hope that there will be greater transparency and consultation with industry under the leadership of Dr Cooke who has been acting in the role since Balding departed in December.
He cited the last-minute withdrawal of a bill that would have allowed Balding to extend his term to 14 years amidst a public outcry and the deafening opposition to plans by the Australian Turf Club to redevelop Sydney racecourse Rosehill into housing.
“No, I don’t have hope at all because whether it was Mr Balding or Ms Cooke, neither of whom I have met, is the right person for a board any given time, the principles still apply.
“The Racing NSW organisation, in tandem with the NSW government on both sides of politics, seems to think that there is only one way to run racing in this state.
“And what they are learning in the last three or four months is that they are getting it very wrong.”
The NSW Racing Minister said in a statement: “The NSW government is committed to ensuring NSW remains the leading state for thoroughbred racing and a successful board is essential to that goal.
“I would like to thank those involved in the selection process and those who put their names forward for the roles.
“I am pleased to announce Dr Cooke as the new chair of Racing NSW. Dr Cooke brings a wealth of experience to the chair role, having served on the board since 2015, including as the deputy chair.
“Dr Cooke is the perfect choice for the role, with the leadership skills needed to navigate the challenging economic headwinds facing the racing industry.”
Meanwhile, Thoroughbred Racehorse Owners Association (TROA) chair Jonathan Munz has been outspoken in his criticism of the RV board and its executive, which is led by Jones.
He says that it is only a matter of time before Jones quits or is sacked by the RV board.
“They’ll have three new directors…. and then the new board will decide what to do with the executive,” Munz told News Ltd.
“The promise that’s been made is that when the three new directors go on, the refreshed board will then consider what should happen with any further changes to the board.
“The only thing in relation to the vote is yes and abstain beat no, so I think a few people were pressured at the last minute to abstain and vote no.
“All the problems are there, need to be fixed, Andrew Jones needs to go, I would expect him to be gone reasonably soon, I would hope so and I would expect it.”
Following this morning’s meeting, acting RV chair Mike Hirst, who is to retire on May 31, said: “All five resolutions to unseat the directors were defeated.
“There were 17 votes against, 15 abstained and there was only three votes cast in favour of the motions.
“It was a pretty strong defeat, 17-3, but the 15 [abstains] I think is just a reflection of the fact there were a lot of people I think that didn’t want to be involved in this process from the start and that’s how they’ve ended up voting.”
Fellow board member Greg Nichols is also set to retire while then-chair Brian Kruger resigned last year, creating three vacancies for Victorian Racing Minister Anthony Carbines to fill.