Equestrian SA to write its own Terms of Reference for taxpayer-funded review

Members of Equestrian SA have been stunned to discover the crisis-ridden local body will write its own rules for a taxpayer funded review into substantial corporate mismanagement.

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Members of Equestrian South Australia have been stunned to discover the crisis-ridden Olympic sport will write its own Terms of Reference for a taxpayer-funded review into substantial corporate mismanagement.

Members had believed the review, overseen by the Office for Recreation, Sport & Racing, would involve a comprehensive examination of multiple issues at ESA over several years.

They include allegations of a toxic culture that allowed bullying and intimidation of children by senior staff.

Other recent matters have seen ESA suffer a series of high-level resignations, embarrassing failures in corporate governance and a dramatic reduction in memberships.

But ORSR chief executive Kylie Taylor has confirmed ESA will prepare the TOR and also select its preferred organisation to conduct the review.

Leading equestrian judge Helen Whittle said the situation was the equivalent of “letting the fox make the rules for the hen house”.

“I was horrified when I heard what was happening,” she said.

“I thought it was all bluster and bravado and that the board member who told us would get a wrap over the knuckles but it turns out it’s all true. I’m speechless.

“This is not my idea of an independent process.”

Chief executive of Office of Recreation, Sport and Racing Kylie Taylor

Helen Whittle on a horse property in Scott Creek, SA for horse-property management guide booklet pamphlet.

Ms Whittle said she was concerned her private submission to ORSR, had been forwarded to ESA board members whom she had criticised.

“I didn’t feel I could speak freely to a board that had lost my trust,” she said.

“I expected someone from outside the board would look at our submissions and agreed the terms of reference based on based on information they received — not on what the board want to happen.

“We have to ask what are we reviewing and why is the taxpayer having to pay for it?”

The Advertiser understands ORSR received around 20 submissions from aggrieved ESA members with several being forwarded after being sent directly to Premier Steven Marshall and Sports Minister Corey Wingard.

Many submissions detail specific allegations of an abuse of power and an avoidance of process at ESA that, in the past nine months, has seen the resignation of its chair, the sacking of a chief executive and the resignation, six weeks after appointment of the new chief executive.

Ms Whittle has raised all matters with Ms Taylor claiming she had “personally and publicly guaranteed” members could expect “meaningful outcomes”.

Ms Taylor told The Advertiser in January there would be “no whitewash” if “I’m spending money on it”.

She is standing by that stance.

Premier Steven Marshall and Sports Minister Corey Wingard. Picture: Tracey Nearmy/AAP

“This has never been an investigation into ESA … it’s a governance review done by an independent body,” the former Australian lacrosse player said.

“At the end of the day the government has no control or authority over Equestrian SA.

“They need to take control and they need to drive this process and that’s what I’ve said consistently.”

Ms Taylor said an investigation of the sport could only be undertaken by Consumer and Business Services and would be a matter for the Attorney-General.

She said she wanted to “assure” members that all correspondence made to the Minister and ORSR had “not been provided to ESA” and they would have their say.

“The review would be pointless without input from the equestrian community,” she added.

“There are check points every step of the way for ESA and they haven’t passed those yet.

“If they want to have the government to continue to invest in them they need to implement those recommendations. Ignoring them is not an option.”

ORSR last year provided ESA with a grant of more than $78,000.

Meanwhile, ESA has appointed two new board members, without a vote of the membership, contradicting a declaration it would maintain board status quo until completion of the review.

“The board’s action is just par for the course,” Ms Whittle added.

“They just don’t get it.”