V’landys set for another stint as ARLC chair
Racing NSW chief executive Peter V’landys is poised to take up another three-year term as chair of the Australian Rugby League Commission (ARLC), a role he has conducted simultaneously since 2019.
The looming re-election, made public by his ARLC predecessor Peter Beattie yesterday ahead of today’s ARLC annual general meeting, comes as V’landys chalks up 20 years as the racing regulator’s CEO and a process is under way to appoint a new board member and chair of Racing NSW.
The Minns Labor Government was forced into an embarrassing late night backflip last November, withdrawing its proposed legislation that, had it passed, would have allowed Russell Balding to undertake an unprecedented 14 years on the Racing NSW board.
It is unclear whether V’landys’ dual roles will retain the support of Racing NSW’s directors when a new board member and chair is appointed.
“He’s been the best chairman the game’s ever had – certainly better than the previous one,” Beattie jokingly told radio station 2GB yesterday.
“Look, he’s been fantastic. He’s been the ball-gazer that the NRL’s needed .. and there’s no doubt he’ll be elected for another three years.”
An independent selection panel, on which V’landys’ long-time harness racing ally John Dumesny is reportedly a government-appointed member of, is set to make recommendations to Racing Minister David Harris in the near future about who should join the board following the exit of Balding.
Dr Saranne Cooke, Racing NSW’s vice-chair under Balding’s recent reign and the interim chair since his departure, was granted a two-year extension to her eight-year term in December.
Former Greater Western Sydney Giants, WestConnex and Venues NSW chairman Tony Shepherd, who has been a Racing NSW board member since 2017, is favoured to be appointed as the next chair of the racing regulator. – Tim Rowe