Christian Porter set to pad up for WACA role

The former attorney-general’s appointment follows a turbulent few years on the WACA board, amid divisions over the redevelopment of the historic ground.

Former attorney general Christian Porter in Parliament House. P)icture: Martin Ollman/Getty Images

Former attorney general Christian Porter is set to join the board of the Western Australian Cricket Association, in an appointment that marks his first step back into the public arena and which could point to the end of the organisation’s longrunning culture war.

The Australian has confirmed that the WACA board has resolved to appoint Mr Porter, ahead of a formal announcement ahead of the organisation’s annual general meeting this week.

It appears to be Mr Porter’s first board appointment since he retired from politics at the 2022 Federal election in the wake of historical rape accusations against him. Mr Porter has since returned to work as a barrister.

Mr Porter previously served on the board of the WACA until 2014, when he was appointed a parliamentary secretary to then-prime minister Tony Abbott, and during his time in politics helped $30 million of Federal funding commitments to the organisation.

Mr Porter’s political experience could well be of use to the organisation, given the WACA board has been riven by disunity in recent years. The board has been split between a group of conservative traditionalists, including former Australian Test cricketer John Inverarity, and a group aligned with recently retired chief executive Christina Matthews who backed Ms Matthews’ push to modernise the organisation and make it more inclusive.

The traditionalists have been vocal over what they see as ongoing issues with the $169 million ground redevelopment launched under Ms Matthews’ reign, including funding shortfalls and a plan – since abandoned – to not include urinals in the male toilets.

The WACA Ground will soon boast a range of inclusive features including a new all-abilities playground thanks to a grant from major supporter Lotterywest. Picture: Facebook

The board split culminated in a decision to suspend board member Paul Collins for two months following an investigation into his behaviour. The WACA ultimately apologised to Mr Collins, who had spoken out publicly about the urinal issue, and rescinded the suspension.

Mr Porter fills the role vacated by former WA governor Kerry Sanderson, who left earlier this year after the board voted 5-4 against extending her term by another year.

In a statement to The Australian, WACA chair Avril Fahey confirmed that the board had resolved to appoint Mr Porter to the vacant board-elected position.

“Mr Porter has been heavily involved in cricket while at University in WA as a player and Life Member for the past three decades,” Ms Fahey said.

“His experience across the law and government, as well as his love of cricket, will be valuable additions to the board and we look forward to his contribution.”

In other board changes, Michael Gannon last month stepped down as deputy chair while corporate legal counsel Christian Bauer has elected not to run for another term. Dr Gannon, a former president of the Australian Medical Association, had co-signed with Ms Fahey the letter confirming Mr Collins’ suspension.

Dr Gannon has been replaced as deputy chair by former WA bowler Peter Capes.

The board changes put the WACA even further away from achieving the gender parity needed to secure dedicated funding from the state, and now Federal, governments.

The WACA hosting a Sheffield Shield match this year. Picture: Paul Kane/Getty Images

The WA government offers more than $100,000 a year to state sporting bodies with an equal gender split but the WACA board decided more than a year ago not to comply with the measure. Under policy announced earlier this month by the Albanese government, national and state-level sports organisations will have their federal funding withheld from 2027 if they do not have an equal gender split on their boards.

Chair Avril Fahey – whose term on the board ends later this year – and Gail McGowan are the only two women on the ten-person WACA board.

Mr Porter retired from politics after a turbulent final few years in Canberra, marked by the emergence of historical allegations from a woman known only as “Kate”. The woman had made and then withdrew allegations she had been raped by Mr Porter more than 30 years ago, before she took her own life in 2020.

He has acted in several high-profile matters since returning to the law in 2023, including representing Melbourne underworld identity Mick Gatto, Russian oligarch Oleg Deripaska, and Sam Barnett, the son of former WA premier Colin Barnett. Mr Porter was treasurer in the Barnett government before he made the jump to Federal politics.

Mr Porter was approached for comment.