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Racehorse TALK » Racing Talk » N.S.W Gallops » Topic: New Chairman for RacingNSW -- who is Minister?
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Author Topic: New Chairman for RacingNSW -- who is Minister?  (Read 2087 times)
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Peter Mair
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Original Post 2011-Jul-12, 08:23 PM


New Chairman for RacingNSW -- why is the Minister not calling any changing of the guard here?

This is a question that one might expect John Messara to be pondering tonight.

The rest of us are pondering this nonsense:

Alan Brown has announced he is stepping down as chairman of Racing NSW.

Alan Bell has been appointed Racing NSW Chairman following the resignation of Alan Brown on Tuesday.

The board of Racing NSW unanimously resolved to appoint Alan Bell as chairman with Brown as deputy chairman.

Brown will stay on as the Deputy Chairman.


Who is running this show!

Cop this:

Bell said it was an honour to be appointed chairman.

"At Racing NSW we focus on maximising returns for everyone who participates commercially in racing, and on ensuring everyone in NSW continues to enjoy following the races," he said.

"We are determined to ensure a prosperous racing future for all."

[Presumably the relevant focus is the 'commercial participants' -- and, unsaid, 'stuff the punters' for whom we are grateful for kicking the tin but otherwise we make little real effort to ensure they get a fair go in terms of TAB takeouts and more general protections from exploitation by 'commercial participants'.]








xxxxxxxxxxxxxxx



Racing NSW Chairman steps down
Nic Ashman
Tuesday, 12 July 2011


Alan Bell has been appointed Racing NSW Chairman following the resignation of Alan Brown on Tuesday.

Brown annouonced he was stepping down after 2-1/2 years in the job.


Brown will stay on as the Deputy Chairman.
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Peter Mair
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2011-Jul-18, 06:51 PM



The Minister would have been asked to agree to this change.

............but as to the reported speculation about 'pushing and shoving' within the board, it is more likely a cosmetic change intended to dampen the undisguised ambitions of a budding messiah who has been fractious in the stalls for some time, clamouring for the high chair.

People forget what happened in 2009 when a new minister,  unable to oversee the appointment of anything like an independent board, finished up appointing people of his own choosing: the current board of RacingNSW serves at the Minister's discretion -- and he has agreed to, or negotiated,  the swap of the high chairs, for his own reasons.
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PoisonPen7
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2011-Jul-19, 01:11 AM

I don't know Alan Bell at all but he seems to have exemplary qualifications for the position. And a vet being the Chairman when we have had recent scares with EI and Hendra would seem to be a bonus (no disrespect at all intended for Alan Brown).

Have there been rumblings? I haven't read any. Maybe I don't get out enough  Undecided
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bgm1409
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2011-Jul-19, 08:27 AM



"At Racing NSW we focus on maximising returns for everyone who participates commercially in racing, and on ensuring everyone in NSW continues to enjoy following the races," he said.

"We are determined to ensure a prosperous racing future for all."

[Presumably the relevant focus is the 'commercial participants' -- and, unsaid, 'stuff the punters' for whom we are grateful for kicking the tin but otherwise we make little real effort to ensure they get a fair go in terms of TAB takeouts and more general protections from exploitation by 'commercial participants'.]

Must be a case of glass 1/2 full or empty, but I would think that punters are included in the comment "everyone who participates commercially in racing"
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Peter Mair
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2011-Oct-11, 09:23 PM



Ministerial business as usual at RacingNSW

Changes to board of Racing NSW

Tuesday 11 October 2011

The board of Racing NSW is in caretaker mode with the announcement of new legislation to introduce reforms to racing's governing body.

The present five-member board, which has been in operation for less than three years after reforms made by the previous government, will be replaced by a seven-member board under changes to the Thoroughbred Racing Act.

Racing minister George Souris announced the proposed changes to the legislation on Tuesday, saying they would broaden the skills base of the board and strengthen appointment procedures and eligibility and conflict of interest requirements.
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SCOTRIK
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2011-Oct-12, 08:20 PM

"Under the new legislation no person will eligible for a Board appointment if he or she has been an employee or committee member of a race club or industry association in the previous 12 months.

The Racing Minister will appoint Board members from a shortlist of candidates provided by the Selection Panel. The Minister will also appoint the Chair and Deputy Chair of Racing NSW."



So all power in the hands of the Minister.

Interesting to see if the "industry association" exclusion will prevent Souros from appointing Messara and assorted other Hunter Valley breeding interests to these roles.
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dragons
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2011-Oct-13, 06:08 AM

"Under the new legislation no person will eligible for a Board appointment if he or she has been an employee or committee member of a race club or industry association in the previous 12 months.

The Racing Minister will appoint Board members from a shortlist of candidates provided by the Selection Panel. The Minister will also appoint the Chair and Deputy Chair of Racing NSW."



So all power in the hands of the Minister.

Interesting to see if the "industry association" exclusion will prevent Souros from appointing Messara and assorted other Hunter Valley breeding interests to these roles.


Why do think he did it.
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Peter Mair
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2011-Oct-13, 08:41 AM



Not so apparently -- it now looks like the RNSW board was acting in self defence

The following extract posted on 18 July speculated about the cosmetic changes at RNSW.

With hindsight, illuminated by the decision to displace the current board, it now seems that the current board was already fractious about the risk of a new minister wanting to appoint his own board -- as had his predescessor.

One can only wonder why the racing media has not delivered some background on this coup -- as a busy week closes, perhaps someone may say something over the weekend -- then again, perhaps they have been told to say nothing.


The Minister would have been asked to agree to this change.

............but as to the reported speculation about 'pushing and shoving' within the board, it is more likely a cosmetic change intended to dampen the undisguised ambitions of a budding messiah who has been fractious in the stalls for some time, clamouring for the high chair.

People forget what happened in 2009 when a new minister,  unable to oversee the appointment of anything like an independent board, finished up appointing people of his own choosing: the current board of RacingNSW serves at the Minister's discretion -- and he has agreed to, or negotiated,  the swap of the high chairs, for his own reasons.
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Peter Mair
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2011-Oct-17, 07:21 AM



RacingNSW Board machinations

Hardly a word has been said in the racing media about the new minister's plans to replace the old minister's board -- but the word 'independence' always gets a good workout in ministerial media releases, whatever it means.

The exception was the following comment in the SMH this morning:

MONEY HOLE

NSW Racing Minister George Souris is intent on spending racing revenue going by his declaration to increase the Racing NSW board from five to seven. Something about the capacity to boost the ''workload and skills base'', interpreted as more jobs for the boys. These controllers get paid. Conflict-of-interest guidelines have been listed by the minister. Souris also announced some type of integrity chief will rule over the combined stewards panel that will police racing and trotting, with ''crims on rims'' now replacing the old ''red hots'' label. Insiders see this as a fat-cat general to lead starving troops into battle.


I guess the eventual outcome will give a better indication of the driving forces now -- unfortunately the new board will not be appointed by the minister until the new year by which time it will be focused on either spending the racefields levy funds or the more disturbing alternative giving the money back and deciding which parts of the industry are abandoned.

All up, this is an issue that deserved more attention from the media and not polite compliance with the preference that nothing be said.
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pegasyber
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2011-Oct-17, 10:28 AM

It is amazing to watch when access to the Free Chocolate Eclairs and Champagne is at stake.
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Peter Mair
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2011-Oct-17, 10:36 AM


Lets talk about 'conflicts of interest'

The new board machinations also got a run with Ken Callander in the DT today -- stressing the importance of board members not having 'conflicts of interest'.

We will see -- so far the only candidates excluded from membership of the board, for having a 'conflict of interest' with the aims of RacingNSW, are punters.
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Peter Mair
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2011-Oct-22, 06:37 AM




Will there be any surprises in the expressions of interest accepted?


Expressions of interest are invited from persons wishing to be considered for appointment as a member of Racing NSW.
Racing NSW has the statutory functions of controlling, supervising and regulating the thoroughbred racing industry as well as initiating, developing and implementing policies conducive to the promotion, strategic development and welfare of the industry and its participants.
The Thoroughbred Racing Act 1996 (as amended) provides for appointments to be made on merit.................
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Peter Mair
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2011-Oct-24, 05:46 PM



Ken draws some flak: others are also wary of ministerial discretion

The new board machinations got another run with Ken Callander in the DT today: my own expectation is that no minister would ever appoint anyone to the RNSW board that was not steeped in the modern political traditions of NSW Racing -- my hope, of course, is that no people so 'steeped' will ever be appointed again.

I cannot imagine the new board being appointed before the High Court decides the fate of the race-fields levy -- and, thumbs down, a very different new board may have to have the skills of a reciever and manager.


I HAVE been blasted by many in the past week for being complimentary to Racing Minister George Souris for highlighting that people with vested interests won't be eligible for appointment to the extended board of Racing NSW. "Watch out the minister hasn't the biggest vested interest. Watch out he does not reward his cronies from the Hunter Valley, the big boys in the breeding interest or their stooges," has been the catchcry. We will have to wait and see. Perhaps I am too trusting. The last thing we need is more jobs for the boys in these appointments.
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Peter Mair
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2011-Oct-25, 05:48 PM



All aboard the racing bailout bandwagon  -- NSW taxpayers should revolt

The merger-conditional sale of Trackside, to get $150 million for Sydney grandstand works, was the signal for all and sundry regional racing cliques to join the queue of racings dependents looking for for handouts  -- and there is an undertone of clearing the decks of associates now less poitically correct in their allegiances.

Trainers turn up heat on NJC board

BROADMEADOW trainers say the Newcastle Jockey Club ignored repeated warnings over the deteriorating state of the track and have told the state government they fear for the future of racing in the city if the current board remains.
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Peter Mair
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2011-Oct-27, 01:45 PM



No worries -- do not be discouraged

A media report this morning was reassuring to those with a background (and a forerground?) in the breeding and racing industries wanting to apply for membership of the RNSW board.

The conflict of interest hurdles are apparently not intended to make it difficult for these people to be successful applicants.

We will not be surprised.
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