Case closed: greyhound board back to business as report kept secret
Months after the Greyhounds NSW board launched an independent investigation into claims brought by a whistleblower about the racing body, the investigation has been wound up and is now ‘closed’.
NSW
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Nine months after the Greyhounds NSW board launched an independent investigation into claims brought by a whistleblower about an alleged governance crisis at the racing body, a spokesman has said the investigation into CEO Rob Macauley had been wound up and is now “closed”.
Lawyer Danny King released a statement on behalf of the board saying: “The Board of GRNSW commissioned an external investigation into complaints made about its Chief Executive Officer. That investigation has now concluded and the Board now considers the matter closed.”
The statement also said the board had been “advised of ICAC’s decision not to pursue the matters referred to it for investigation”.
In June, the Minister for Gaming and Racing David Harris referred the allegations, brought by whistleblower and departed company secretary Ian Londish, to ICAC and the NSW Ombudsman.
Londish’s allegations included concerns about the large turnover of staff at the racing body under Macaulay, the deterioration of workplace culture and perceived conflicts of interest.
Yesterday, the Minister’s office said they had referred the matter to ICAC but “it is a matter for the ICAC as to whether they are investigating”.
The Saturday Telegraph’s request for a copy of the independent investigation fell on deaf ears.
This column understands Workdynamic’s investigation report is also yet to be sighted by the NSW Government which last night maintained it was “committed to supporting a competitive, responsible, and sustainable greyhound racing industry, with the highest standards of integrity and animal welfare.”
It is unclear when the report was completed, although it is understood to have been some weeks ago. It is also understood the new GRNSW board, appointed in September, is yet to convene. GRNSW has also not responded to 30 questions put to them via freedom of information, which was lodged in July.
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