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

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Inquiry into the suitability of certain close associates of the South Australian Jockey Club Report Mrs Forrester-Jones was asked whether any other similar thing had occurred. She responded that, in the course of the board discussing whether to terminate Mr Ploubidis’ employment contract, it had received a submission by Mr Ploubidis which she regarded as “trying to extricate himself from any drama….by trying to offset it by implicating other board members”. This document claimed that Mrs Forrester-Jones had received an all expenses paid trip to Darwin, with her husband. As it had been her recollection that she and her husband had paid their own way to a racing event in Darwin, she searched her records that night and retrieved receipts for every expense she and her husband had incurred. Mrs Forrester-Jones was asked about her understanding of the relationship between the SAJC and its racing controlling authority, TRSA. She displayed a clear and correct understanding of the relationship. 4.2.6 Tony Newman Mr Anthony Paul Newman told the Authority that he was a member of the SAJC and had been declared elected to the board in the elections completed on 13 May 2009. He identified an election statement posted on the website of the SAJC and adopted it as his. He told the Authority that he was a retired automotive industry executive. He was referred to the circumstances which gave rise to the election and, in particular, to the determination by the SAJC board that it would need to validate memberships. He told the Authority that he had had no involvement in the process of validation and with one exception did not know any of the people sent validation forms. He identified the name of one person, with whom he had been acquainted in a work context three years earlier. He had not spoken to that person in the preceding three years. Mr Newman was asked about the Rob Gerard letter. He told the Authority that he had had no knowledge of the letter prior to it being sent out. He was shown the Hi Maddie email. He told the Authority that he had not sent it to anyone and had not spoken to anyone about it. Mr Newman was asked about his involvement in the group known as Transparency Plus. He described the group as being comprised of people with common interests and a respect for each other. While not tied to a tight manifesto, they were prepared to operate under a common umbrella. With respect to the Transparency Plus campaign, Mr Newman disclosed that the group hosted a cocktail party at Morphettville Racecourse. He attended the party. He and the other members of the group shared the costs of the party and of the production of some “how to vote” cards. The how to vote cards were passed out at the racecourse. 30
Inquiry into the suitability of certain close associates of the South Australian Jockey Club Report Mr Newman was asked to detail his interests in racing. He told the Authority that he currently has shares in four horses and funds a share for his son. Mr Newman also told the Authority that he proposed to provide his trainer with the benefit of some of his business expertise and that he was undertaking a strappers’ course. Mr Newman was asked about how he would manage conflicts of interest, between his racing interests and his fiduciary duties to the SAJC. He explained that, if he became aware that a matter before the board touched his personal affairs, he would declare the conflict immediately. Mr Newman was asked of his understanding of the structure of the industry and the relationship between TRSA and the SAJC. He said that he saw TRSA as the controlling body, which would give direction to the SAJC and the role of the SAJC as administering the metropolitan racing club. Mr Newman was asked about his experience with corporate governance and compliance frameworks. He gave a detailed account of his business experience and exposure to these processes. He also indicated that, as a matter of priority, he would be seeking a detailed briefing from the executives of the SAJC. 4.2.7 David Peacock Mr David Godfrey Peacock told the Authority that he had been a member of the SAJC since he was 18 years old, that he had previously served on the SAJC’s board (then called the committee) from 1982 until 1992 and that he had now recently been re-elected. He told the Authority that he was a retired legal practitioner. Mr Peacock identified and adopted a personal history disclosure form submitted by the SAJC, and a letter prepared for members of the SAJC in connection with the election. In answer to questions, Mr Peacock told the Authority that he was aware of a concern as to the validity of certain memberships of the club in the second half of 2008 and of a validation process in 2009. He became aware of those processes by reading the newspapers. Mr Peacock was specifically asked whether he had had any involvement in the validation process for membership and whether he knew anything about how particular validation forms came to be returned to the club in bundles. With the exception of what Mr Peacock described as hearsay, scuttlebutt and general rumour, he knew nothing of these matters. Mr Peacock was shown the Rob Gerard letter. He recalled receiving it as a member and he had earlier become aware of it through a conversation involving Mr Bill Spear. He did not have any other knowledge of the source or delivery of the letter. Mr Peacock told the Authority he regarded the letter as inappropriate. As at the date of examination, Mr Peacock had not spoken to Mr Gerard about the letter either before or after it was despatched. 31
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SAJC--report of inquiry into suitability of close associates - Portellos ...

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