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
He did discuss the matter with Mr Wilkinson, but that conversation was limited to
whose signature would go on the covering letter. Mr Naffine told the Authority that
he had no conversation with Mr Gerard about the letter and that he was unaware of
whether Mr Gerard had spoken to any of the candidates. He offered the opinion that it
would have been unlikely that Mr Gerard had spoken to candidates as he knew that
Mr Gerard had been overseas at the time.
Mr Naffine was asked about the Hi Maddie email. He said that he had not heard of the
individual names in the email. Similarly, Mr Naffine told the Authority that he knew
nothing of text messages being sent to members of the SAJC during the 2009 election
campaign.
With respect to other communication protocols during the election period, Mr Naffine
told the Authority of conversations he had held with Kerry O’Brien about putting out
a brochure for his group. He recalled that there had been dialogue on that matter
between the Electoral Commission and Mr Wilkinson. The Electoral Commission
advice was not to send the letter and Mr Naffine agreed.
Mr Naffine told the Authority that he understood that if the SAJC had authorised the
distribution of the brochure, the Electoral Commission would have withdrawn its
services.
4.2.3 Peter Lewis
Mr Peter James Lewis gave evidence that he had for 13½ years until May 2006 been a
board member of the SAJC. He had been chairman from 2002 until 2005.
Mr Lewis had been involved in the recruitment of Steve Ploubidis as the CEO of the
SAJC, having sat on the final selection panel and having been involved in the contract
negotiation process.
Mr Lewis told the Authority that he was broadly familiar with the terms of the
contract, but not with the specific provisions concerning confidentiality. He was not
surprised to be told that the contract purported to restrict the disclosure of its contents
to the chairman of the SAJC board and the chairman of the board finance committee.
He stated that when he joined the board he did not know what the remuneration or
conditions of the CEO were but, that if he had become curious about it, he would have
expected to be told. In response to questions about the way the board functioned
during his time, Mr Lewis observed the board’s proceedings to be quite tumultuous
with some members, in his opinion, not understanding their responsibilities as
directors. Mr Lewis saw this in terms of disruptiveness and members wishing to
instruct staff directly (as opposed to going through the channel of the CEO) rather
than a factionalisation of the board.
Mr Lewis observed that there was a lack of unanimity on the board concerning
matters of strategy, marked by those whose views were not preferred continuing to
debate the issues in the media.
With respect to day-to-day business, Mr Lewis regarded the board as being cohesive.
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