Wood, Veletta hit out over ’concealed’ WACA governance review

Two high-profile former cricketers whose resignation as WACA board members triggered an investigation into the boardroom have demanded the release of an inquiry’s findings.

An artist's impression of the redeveloped WACA Ground in Perth. Picture: Supplied

Two high-profile former cricketers whose resignation as board members of the Western Australian Cricket Association triggered an investigation into the organisation’s boardroom revolving door have demanded the release of the inquiry’s findings, before a potentially explosive annual general meeting next Wednesday.

Graeme Wood and Mike Veletta, both of whom represented Australia in the 1980s, told The Weekend Australian they believed the findings from the investigation should be shared with the organisation’s membership base.

Fast bowling legend Dennis ­Lillee has also issued a call to action to WACA members, urging them to support the board nomination of former cricketer and football ­administrator Peter Capes at next week’s annual general meeting.

While WA cricket is enjoying its strongest on-field period in generations, it is mired in ongoing tensions off field amid concerns about a $163m redevelopment of its Perth ground under chief executive Christina Matthews.

WA Cricket CEO Christina Matthews in January. Picture: Paul Kane/Getty Images

Mr Veletta’s resignation from the WACA board last year was the first of six board departures in just over a year.

WACA deputy chair Tom Percy KC agreed to an independent inquiry into the ­departures at last year’s annual meeting, and the review – which is understood to have involved ­interviews with 17 people – was completed and shared with the board earlier this year. But the report’s findings and recommendations have not been shared with members amid an ongoing division within the board over just what should be released.

It is understood that some ­directors believe only an executive summary of the report should be handed over – as was outlined in the inquiry’s original terms of reference – while others want the entire report made public.

There are fears among some board members that releasing the full report could breach confidentiality undertakings. A public airing of the “dirty laundry” in the full report could also further ­exacerbate tensions within the organisation’s membership base.

Graeme Wood in 1984.

Mike Veletta with the World Cup trophy in 1987. Picture: Bob Thomas/Getty Images

But Mr Wood and Mr Veletta said members were entitled to know more about the state of the WACA’s governance.

Mr Wood said the report had been very thorough and he consented to its release.

“I just think it’s outrageous that this was done in February, and continues to be snowballed. It’s astounding,” Mr Wood said.

Mr Veletta said it appeared the report was being “concealed” from members.

“The review was done for the benefit of the members. It was to ensure that the people that have kept the WACA going got some answers around their questions as to why cricket people like Graeme and myself actually resigned from the board,” he said.

“The intent (of the review) was around good governance and that’s something that every organisation should pride itself on.”

Mr Lillee, meanwhile, has written a letter endorsing the WACA board candidacy of former WA bowler and Subiaco Football Club chief executive Capes.

“I am very pleased that he is a candidate and if ever there was a time when a person of Peter’s ­experience and talents were needed on the board it is unquestionably now,” he wrote.

“With Chairman Tuck Waldron and able board members such as Graeme Wood, Mike Veletta and Nicola Brandon having all felt the need to resign from the board in the past twelve months; the board in the midst of the WACA development and important decisions needing to be made by the board in the immediate ­future, Peter Capes will be an invaluable addition.”

Mr Lillee quit as president of the WACA in 2015 in protest of plans to move Perth’s Test matches to Optus Stadium.

Former Australian great Dennis Lillee. Picture: AAP Image/Matt Turner

The Perth Scorchers have ­become the dominant Big Bash side under Ms Matthews and the men’s team has won the past two Sheffield Shield competitions. She has also secured over $100m in funds for a major redevelopment of the northern end of the ground.

Many members, however, hold reservations about the ­design and the cost of the redevelopment.

There are fears the WACA is still short of the funding it has promised to contribute to the project, while the design – in particular the decision to exclude urinals from the male toilets, and a configuration that will obscure the view of the ground from prime viewing positions – has also come under fire.

WACA chair Avril Fahey said the organisation continued to assess its options around the report.

“The board is currently seeking advice as to what findings may be released in keeping with the inquiry’s agreed terms of reference,” Ms Fahey said.