Save Our MRC hauled before ‘kangaroo court’

A trio of Melbourne Racing Club’s board members have been called to a disciplinary hearing over their public campaign to shake up the club.

Grey skies for the MRC and Mark Zahra riding Place Du Carrousel during Race 8, the Henley Homes Underwood Stakes at Caulfield Racecourse on September 21. Picture: Vince Caligiuri/Getty Images

The Melbourne Racing Club has ordered three board members to a “kangaroo court” over their public push to save the Sandown racecourse.

John Kanga, Alison Saville and Caitrin Kelly have been called to a disciplinary hearing ahead of Thursday’s annual general meeting at Caulfield.

The trio have been vocal critics of the MRC’s plans to sell off Sandown and have highlighted problems with the new mounting yard.

Now they fear they will be blocked from voting on the next chair of the MRC executive committee, which will be decided on Friday.

“This so-called “disciplinary hearing” is an attempt by the very people whose performance the members and the racing industry are heavily criticising, to set up a kangaroo court to retain their positions,” Mr Kanga said.

“These are the same board members we have sought to remove at a special general meeting of members, which unfortunately they have made every effort to avoid and delay at enormous cost to the Club.”

John Kanga.

Matt Cain.

The Melbourne Racing Club sent a letter to the trio demanding they address concerns that they had criticised the club publicly.

Ms Savile and Ms Kelly have been threatened with defamation over claims they have made that the club had a “poor culture” and “toxic atmosphere.”

Mr Kanga has been pushing for a special general meeting to let members vote on whether to keep Sandown and raised concerns about the club’s new mounting yard.

The MRC has applied for Sandown racecourse to be rezoned for housing, which could turn the 112-hectare parcel of land into an $800 million asset.

The club had intended to use that windfall to pay for a new $250 million grandstand at Caulfield.

Caulfield racecourse is mired in a bitter dispute. (Photo by Vince Caligiuri/Getty Images)

But trainers have raised concerns, saying they want to keep Sandown as a racetrack.

Mr Kanga said the board, which was led by outgoing chair Matt Cain, was trying to silence the Save our MRC group.

“They know they cannot win a vote of members and are now potentially seeking to subvert the democratic process by suspending us on the very day when the members look set to elect two new committee members that are likely to support us.” he said.

“This is going to outrage members who are already angry with the performance of the club.”

The club last week rejected Mr Kanga’s special general meeting request issuing a note to members.

“The Executive Committee, excluding members with conflicts of interest, has reviewed a motion received by Committee Member John Kanga in detail and concluded that it is not legally valid,” the email to members said.

“As a result, we will not be holding a special general meeting to address the motion.”

Mr Cain was contacted for comment on the disciplinary action and Mr Kanga’s comments.

The MRC Nomination, Remuneration and Governance Sub-Committee said in a statement:

“We are committed to maintaining the highest standards of governance.”

“The Committee is concerned that a series of actions from three Executive Committee members may have breached the code of conduct. The code of conduct has been accepted by all Committee members and was established to ensure the highest standards and proper conduct at the committee level are followed,” the statement said.

“No determination has been made at this stage and the relevant individuals have been invited to respond to those concerns, as is appropriate. No further comment can be made at this stage while the proper process is ongoing.”

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Originally published as Save Our MRC hauled before ‘kangaroo court’