CEO of ClubsNSW sacked after ‘Catholic gut’ dig at NSW Premier Dominic Perrottet

The CEO of ClubsNSW has been sacked after he was mired in controversy for his comments over Dominic Perrottet’s religion.

The CEO of Clubs NSW has been stood down after he was mired in controversy for his comments over Dominic Perrottet’s religion. Picture: NCA NewsWire / Brendan Read

Josh Landis has been sacked as the CEO of ClubsNSW after saying Premier Dominic Perrottet’s push for gambling reform was influenced by “his Catholic gut”.

The board of ClubsNSW met on Tuesday to discuss the crisis.

“After careful consideration, the board has made the decision to end Mr Landis’ employment with ClubsNSW with immediate effect,” ClubsNSW said in a statement.

“The board acknowledges Josh Landis’ exemplary service to the industry over more than 15 years through some very difficult times.

“The Board will consider its next steps and has no further comment at this point in time.”

Josh Landis has been stood down as the CEO of ClubsNSW. Picture: ClubsNSW.

Mr Landis sparked outrage after he used the Premier’s religion to criticise Mr Perrottet’s approach to gambling reform, sparking multiple calls for his resignation.

“He’s going to struggle because he can’t satisfy everybody. I think it’s fair to say that the Premier has very little understanding of this issue and has acted from his conservative Catholic gut rather than based on evidence,” he told Nine Newspapers on Monday.

The ClubsNSW CEO on Tuesday apologised for his comments and said he “should not have referred to the Premier’s faith”. He also personally apologised to the Premier.

“This was not a premeditated comment or an intentional attack on the Premier personally, rather it was a poor attempt to explain that there is a lack of evidence for the policy and the Premier is a moral person who intrinsically wants to help those who are causing themselves harm,” he said in a statement.

NSW Premier Dominic Perrottet said Mr Landis’ comments were an attack on people of faith. Picture: NCA NewsWire/ Brendan Read

Mr Landis’ comments have been widely criticised across the political spectrum, with calls for the ClubsNSW boss to stand down.

Speaking to Ben Fordham on 2GB on Tuesday morning, the Premier said Mr Landis’ comments were an attack on Catholics and other people of faith.

“If you replace the word Catholic with Islamic, Jewish or Hindu, you’d be resigning before you got to work this morning,” Mr Perrottet said.

“It’s not about faith and people shouldn’t attack people’s faith in relation to decision making.”

Independent MPs, Alex Greenwich, Helen Dalton and NSW Opposition leader, Chris Minns said they believed Mr Landis should leave his role.

It's time for Josh Landis to go, ClubsNSW need a new CEO and a new direction away from bullying, intimidation and religious discrimination. @Dom_Perrottet@AlexGreenwich@TroyStolz

— Helen Dalton MP (@helendalton22) January 31, 2023

Josh Landis’s position as CEO of ClubsNSW is beyond untenable and it’s time for him to go. I’ve had my policy disputes with the Premier on social reforms, but I would never attack him because of his faith.

— Alex Greenwich MP (@AlexGreenwich) January 30, 2023

Speaking to 2GB’s Chris O’Keefe on Tuesday afternoon, Mr Minns said: “Given the charged atmosphere, I don’t believe he can continue in his role.

“They’re an independent board, they’re going to make their decisions about the next steps but they’ve got to think about the future of clubs.”

Mr Landis began as the CEO of ClubsNSW in May of 2020 and has worked in the clubs industry since 2007, according to his LinkedIn.

Prior to that Mr Landis also held a political advisor role with the NSW Government, and worked with the Executive Council of Australian Jewry.

Gambling reform has become a major issue ahead of the March 25 election.

Although the Premier has yet to announce the Coalition’s policy, Mr Perrottet has hinted it will involved a cashless gaming model that involves a card with a set daily limit.

Labor’s gambling reform policy involves an eight-point strategy, and includes proposed regulations like a $500-a-day poker machine feed-in limit, a cashless gaming trial on 500 machines, and a ban on political donations from clubs with poker machines and gaming signage at venues.