WACA ‘no place for woke politics’

A heated meeting saw the WACA chair bombarded with questions about the ground redevelopment and the ongoing secrecy around a recent board inquiry.

WACA acting chair Tom Percy KC.

The latest person to leave the board of the WACA has departed with a call for sporting organisations to steer clear of “woke” social causes amid ongoing tensions between members and administrators of the famous – and soon to be all but urinal-free – cricket ground.

During a lengthy and at times heated annual general meeting on Wednesday night, WACA chair Avril Fahey and chief executive Christina Matthews were bombarded with questions about the state of the ground’s $163.4m redevelopment, the decision not to install urinals in the new northern area, and the ongoing concealment of a report into a procession of board member resignations.

The meeting was closed to media, but a recording was obtained by The Australian.

The bulk of questions from members were directed to the decision not to release any of the findings from the recent inquiry into the WACA’s governance. The inquiry was promised at last year’s AGM by acting chair Tom Percy KC after a push from members, and was completed in June, but the board has been at loggerheads over what if any of the report should be released.

While former Australian cricketers Graeme Wood and Mike Veletta – the two former board members whose resignations helped lead to the inquiry – had both confirmed they wished to have the report released, Ms Fahey said there were concerns about protecting the confidentiality of those who participated in the inquiry.

“We wanted to find out what they really thought and protecting them through confidentiality was the best way that we thought that was appropriate. We are seeking further advice about what we can share,” she said.

Ms Fahey also confirmed the contract recently signed by the WACA to begin construction of the new northern portion of the ground would, as first revealed by The Australian, not include the fit-out of the level two administration offices or level three function centre and members area. “This enabled us to bring the main works contract in price in line with the current funding available,” she said.

“We remain committed to completing these two components. However, it was felt these are better done outside the main contract to provide additional time to value-engineer and ensure we could raise the funding to finalise these two elements.”

WACA chief executive Christina Matthews.

Members also heard the WACA was in the process of securing a multimillion-dollar overdraft facility to help it manage its cash flows through the construction phase. Its constitution prohibits the ground being used as security, and Ms Fahey assured members the overdraft would be unsecured.

“We don‘t want to have to use it, but we need that coverage for our liquidity and for our cash flow to support WA cricket, and it’s prudent to do that,” she said.

Mr Percy, a high-profile Perth lawyer who was required to step down from the board after serving his maximum term, used his farewell address to highlight the work needed to improve the organisation’s off-field environment.

“The starting point, and I make no secret of this, should be the release of the full report into the resignations,” he said.

“I’ve never interpreted the word confidential as meaning that it shouldn’t be released to the members. But that’s out of my hands now.”

An artist's impression of the redeveloped WACA ground in Perth.

Mr Percy said while there was a lot of talk about inclusivity, his main focus was on ensuring the WACA was inclusive of its members. “My focus on the board was always to serve the members, reflect their views and focus on cricket rather than politics.

“The tendency of other sporting bodies, to their shame in my view, like some AFL clubs, to throw their weight and support behind every raggle-taggle woke cause that comes along is something that the WACA should resist. We’re a cricket club. If you want to be part of a political push, then join a political party. Let’s just focus on the game.”

The five-way battle to replace Mr Percy was won in a landslide by ex-state cricketer and football administrator Peter Capes.