SAJC--report of inquiry into suitability of close associates - Portellos ...

Inquiry into the suitability of certain close associates of the
South Australian Jockey Club
Report
Mr Wilkinson described the club’s election communications policy as otherwise being
to confine candidates to a 250 word message to be included in an election booklet
with the voting papers. Mr Wilkinson also advised that the Transparency Plus group
had sought assistance with a mail out inviting members to a cocktail party. The SAJC
had declined to facilitate the mail out of those invitations.
No other mailings were facilitated by the SAJC.
Mr Wilkinson was asked about the Hi Maddie email and text messages. He was
unable to assist with respect to the origin of the email or as to how the senders would
have obtained email addresses or mobile telephone numbers of SAJC members.
With respect to name and address lists, Mr Wilkinson indicated that it had been a past
practice of the SAJC to provide candidates with the membership list, but this practice
has ceased some years ago. He felt that there might still be some older lists in
circulation.
Mr Wilkinson also disclosed a number of individual issues where eligible voters had
not received voting papers. These were attributed to clerical issues.
Mr Wilkinson also advised that the SAJC did not at the time have an audit committee
separate from the finance committee and that, while the auditors did not attend the
board meeting which approved the 2008 accounts, the regular practice had been for
them to attend the board meeting and subject themselves to such questions as were
asked.
Mr Wilkinson also advised that marketing plans tabled at the board would set out
submissions for the recruitment of new members over 6, 12 and 18 month periods and
that the board members could track performance with that by noting the number of
young SAJC members put up at each meeting for membership.
In respect of the way proposed members were presented to the board for approval in
October 2008, Mr Wilkinson advised that some 80 or 90 names were included in the
papers circulated prior to the meeting, and a further 180 or 190 were tabled at the
meeting. When asked whether it would be remarkable for such large numbers to be
presented at the October meeting, Mr Wilkinson responded that September and
October were months when there were traditionally larger numbers of proposed
members. The motivator for this was that SAJC membership brought with it some
privileges for the Melbourne Cup and for a member joining mid term which produced
some advantages.
4.2.2 John Naffine
Mr John Fewings Naffine gave evidence that, for the 12-odd years preceding the day
before his examination, he had been a board member of the SAJC. After his first two
years he served for two years as deputy vice chairman, for the next four as vice
chairman and for the most recent four years as chairman.
Mr Naffine was asked about observations of discord, conflict and friction in the
operation of the SAJC board. He responded that his last 8 years compared very well to
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