NSW Racing boss claims Rosehill inquiry being used to launch smear campaign against him by ‘cheats and undesirables’
- by Admin
- August 9, 2024
In short:
NSW Racing boss Peter V’landys has accused members of the racing industry of using a parliamentary inquiry into the sale of Rosehill Racecourse to launch a “smear campaign” against him.
The inquiry heard the value of the proposed development, which would see 25,000 new homes built, is in dispute.
What’s next?
Mr V’landys said NSW Racing has “never ever ever” had any intention of keeping the money from the sale themselves if it goes ahead.
NSW Racing boss Peter V’landys has vehemently denied allegations of misconduct including that he monitors his own staff’s emails during a fiery exchange with independent MP Mark Latham in an parliamentary inquiry into the sale of the Rosehill Racecourse.
“You’re trying to do a gotcha moment, Mr Latham, and it’s not working,” Mr V’landys said.
“This is meant to be about the sale of Rosehill, but at the moment all this is is a smear campaign against me.”
The controversial Rosehill redevelopment would see the historic Parramatta track converted in to 25,000 new homes in a bid to “re-shape Sydney”.
High-profile racehorse trainer Gai Waterhouse has previously testified the racing industry is “incensed” by the plan and said she was confident the Australian Turf Club (ATC) members would never agree to the sale when it goes to a vote.
Premier Chris Minns defended the proposed development on Friday and said Sydney would be “stuck in the mud” if institutions like the Australian Turf Club (ATC) were not open to change.
“This culture in Sydney that says everything has to be set in stone, nothing can change, is hugely detrimental to the city,” he said.
Further questions have also been raised about the potential value of the Rosehill site after ATC board director Timothy Hale said he had never seen a formal valuation showing it could be worth $5 billion and revealed he had “never accepted” the figure.
Mr V’landys told the inquiry modelling from within his organisation, which has not been made public, showed the site could be worth $23 billion if sold bit-by-bit over three and a half decades.
‘Smear’ campaign from ‘cheats and undesirables’
Mr V’landys told the inquiry there is an email circulating within the industry encouraging people to make submissions attacking his character.
“I’m aware of an email going around that’s basically saying this is your chance to get rid of V’landys, so make up whatever you can, put a submission in, doesn’t matter if it is the truth, doesn’t matter if it is lies, but just smear him,” he said.
“One of our main roles is getting rid of the cheats and undesirables, especially those who are cruel to horses … I’m aware some of them are using this inquiry to undermined Racing NSW.”
NSW Racing has faced questions about the Rosehill site, including allegations they plan to keep the money from the sale for themselves.
There are also calls from members of the ATC to scrap the sale of the track altogether, and concerns the proposed site of a new track to replace it at the Brick Pit in Olympic Park would not be suitable due to size and habitat destruction of an endangered frog.
Mr V’landys told the inquiry the regulator did not intend to keep the money but wanted there to be impendent oversight of how it is spent by the ATC.
“We wanted oversight to make sure they are spending the money on racing infrastructure,” he said.
“We didn’t want the money spent on members’ indulgences like ski chalets and resorts in Fiji and resorts in Paris.
“At no stage did we say we were going to take the money.”
Latham uses parliamentary privilege to level claims of misconduct
This week ahead of Mr V’landys appearance, Mr Latham used parliamentary privilege to level claims of “dictatorial behaviour” against the CEO.
In today’s hearing, Mr Latham asked Mr V’landys if he had ever reached a settlement or signed a non-disclosure agreement with a former member of his staff, which he denied.
“I have three young children, and they are going to hear from this inquiry that I’ve done this … when I haven’t,” Mr V’landys said.
The inquiry heard NSW Racing would only support the sale of the Rosehill site if there was another track built in its place or if the Warwick Farm racecourse was deemed a suitable alternative to upgrade.
Trainers and owners have previously raised doubts any other NSW track would be suitable for Group One racing, the highest standard of thoroughbred racing in Australia, which is currently held at Rosehill.
Under the development plan, the racecourse will become a new suburb complete with an extra stop on the Metro West linking Parramatta to Sydney’s CBD.
At an announcement of the project last year, Premier Chris Minns said for far too long housing had not kept up with infrastructure and vice versa.
“This is one of the last parcels in metropolitan Sydney of uncontaminated land to do dwellings at scale,” he said.
In December, ATC chairman Peter McGauran said the historic project would “transform the racing industry”, with the revenue leapfrogging it forward by 50 years.
Another hearing will take place in September.
Posted , updated
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