When the Select Committee on the Proposal to Develop Rosehill Racecourse rose at the conclusion of their second sitting last month, we were none the wiser on the two key topics for which that body had been convened.
The first query was whether the industry could seriously dispense with Rosehill in return for a windfall previously unimaginable, a proposal that has angered most with a racing heart despite the sums bandied around. The second question is just which of the two parties was the driving force in discussions; the NSW Government or the Australian Turf Club, and had Premier Chris Minns shown friend Steve McMahon, the Australian Turf Club’s Head of Membership and Corporate Affairs, favouritism in expediting a meeting in his office?
The schedule for Thursday’s third session gives the indication we might finally get some answer’s to the Minns question and possibly some significant background on the proposed Olympic Park brick pit and Horsley Park projects.
What's happened over the last few weeks?
Before discussing what the day might hold it is worth looking at some of the developments undertaken since session two, some in plain sight, others behind closed doors. We are yet to see any proper plans regarding the suitability of the brick pit or for the training centre at Horsley Park - however, the engineering issues around both projects should, and will, take some time. A best guess suggests they could be dropping early 2025.
Racing NSW recently posted a Draft Strategic Plan on their website, catching the industry by surprise. The document has since faced criticism for appearing hastily cobbled together and lacking robustness. During a Finance Committee meeting, the Honourable Mark Latham questioned David Harris, Minister for Gaming and Racing, who acknowledged that after watching the Select Committee's second session, he noted that Racing NSW had failed to meet its obligation under the Racing Act 1996 to prepare a strategic plan every three years. Mr. Harris subsequently wrote to Racing NSW Chair Dr. Saranne Cooke for an explanation, to which the response was, in his words, “they’d probably been a bit tardy with it!”
Mark Latham MP
One development that has flown under the radar is the Committee’s decision to interview several industry figures in camera ahead of the November 30th deadline for their final report. The evidence gathered from these sessions is expected to surface only when the report is tabled in Parliament.
Another point of interest that may shape the landscape is the Australian Turf Club’s Annual General Meeting, scheduled for November 28th, when the terms for Deputy Chair Tim Hale and Director Angela Belle McSweeney will expire. Hale is seeking re-election and is unlikely to face opposition, as he has the backing of the ‘Save Rosehill’ campaign. It seems almost certain that the other vacant position will be filled by a candidate supported by the same group. Notably, at a recent Rosehill meeting, the current Board appeared in full force on a charm offensive, perhaps in response to Gai Waterhouse’s remark that ‘they were never seen on track.’
Session three focus
What can we expect from the third session? With Simon Draper, Will Murphy, and Kate Boyd from the Premier’s Department and Cabinet Office opening proceedings, Senators on the committee Damien Tudehope (Liberals), Wes Fang (Nationals), and independent Mark Latham are likely to come out swinging, searching for any evidence that links Premier Minns to preferential treatment for his friend McMahon, and by extension, the ATC. While the terms of reference weren’t officially ranked in order of importance, it’s no coincidence that the dealings of the Minns government in the lead-up to the track sale proposal were listed as points a) and b).
This Committee has always been about probity issues surrounding the Premier, and having failed to land a significant blow in the first two sittings, expect Tudehope, Fang, and Latham to come in hard and fast on Thursday.
As an aside, one has to wonder why the Committee waited until the second sitting to call McMahon and his boss, ATC Chairman Peter McGauran, and now, in the third sitting, to question the public servants involved in the same meeting. Had these key witnesses been called from the outset, the Committee could have addressed the core issues sooner, allowing more time to focus on the broader impact this decision will have on the industry. They might have even delved deeper into calls for changes to the industry’s funding model and a review of the current Racing Act, topics that arose from earlier submissions. Instead, the Committee has bounced between a range of issues, rarely getting to the heart of the matter.
Peter McGauran
In the pre-lunch session, Carla Armanet, CEO of the Sydney Olympic Park Authority, and Karen Jones, CEO of the Office of Sport, will be questioned. From this, we might finally gauge whether the proposed replacement racecourse at the brick pit site and the training centre at Horsley Park have even the slightest credibility.
The hearings will conclude with Dr Saranne Cooke taking the seat in her role as Chair of Racing NSW. She will likely face a barrage of questions about her CEO, Peter V'Landys, and his suitability to continue in a position he's held for 20 years. Mark Latham, in particular, has a history of using parliamentary privilege to express unflattering views on V'Landys. This will also be the first opportunity for the industry to see Dr Cooke under scrutiny since she took over from Russell Balding, making it a pivotal moment for her leadership.
The Committee will convene at 9.30am Sydney time with the TTR live blog kicking off soon after on the following link:
