Amanda Vanstone, Tony Shepherd, appointed to TRSA board to determine the future of SA Racing
The chair of an AFL club and a former immigration minister are on a panel appointed to determine the future of SA”s thoroughbred racing industry.
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A former immigration minister, a top financial executive and the chairman of an AFL club are set to take the reins a panel to determine the future of thoroughbred racing in South Australia.
The Advertiser understands Amanda Vanstone, Andrea Slattery and Tony Shepherd will join two leading racing administrators on a five person panel to determine appointments to Thoroughbred Racing SA, the peak body for the sport.
Other appointments to the five member panel to determine the board are from the TRSA’s joint shareholders, Country Racing SA and the South Australian Jockey Club.
CRSA, representing the state’s 24 country clubs has appointed its chair Wayne Henson, also chair of Balaklava race club, while the SAJC, which conducts Adelaide metropolitan races, has appointed its chair, Bodelle Francis.
The new selection panel structure was a “non-negotiable” imposition by the state government as part of the sport accepting a $24 million stimulus package.
In July, Racing Minister Corey Wingard told The Advertiser the conditions on the grants had been imposed to ensure “the best possible value for money” and to ensure the industry develops “a sustainable business model.”
In addition, the new TRSA board must be “endorsed” by Mr Wingard before it can be ratified.
Some industry leaders saw the move as government interference but had to cave in to the demands as the rescue package was a necessary injection to support the ailing industry.
Incomes for racing have been significantly rescued by a state government consumption tax on betting of 15 per cent, well in excess of that imposed by other states.
Last month Ms Vanstone a former minister in Howard government and a devoted Port Adelaide Football Club fan, on the PAFC board, was announced of the chair a new expert panel on the future of sport in South Australia.
Her appointment was part of the State Government’s consideration to making a bid to host the 2026 Commonwealth Games.
Ms Slattery is a non executive director of AMP Limited with experience in financial services, superannuation and retirement.
Married to District Court Judge, Paul Slattery, she established the SMSF Association an independent, professional body representing Australia’s self-managed super fund sector.
Mr Shepherd is regarded as a corporate heavy hitter as a former chair of the Business Council of Australia, chairman of the National Commission of Audit and chairman of ASTRA (the subscription TV Association).
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He is currently a board member of Racing NSW, the Sydney Cricket Ground Trust and has ben chair of the AFL Giants since 2012.
In October last year, the man who was involved in major projects such as the Sydney Harbour Tunnel, Melbourne City Link and East Link was appointed by the Marshall government as the initial chair of the seven-person Infrastructure SA board.
The independent body will look to combine the expertise of the private and public sectors to develop a 20-year state infrastructure strategy.
The Marshall government has been contacted for comment.