Luke Sayers’ Carlton Blues bid hit by PwC scandal
An investigation into “gross misconduct” has thrown doubt over Carlton president Luke Sayers’ campaign for another year in the top job.
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Carlton president Luke Sayers’ campaign for another year in the top job has been thrown into doubt by a warning he is still in the sights of an investigation into “gross misconduct” at PwC.
A powerful politician, a leading businessman and a life member have criticised Mr Sayers’ bid for another year as Carlton president, beyond the 12-year board limit.
The former PwC chief executive is asking members for an extension at an annual general meeting on February 22.
Senator Deborah O’Neill, who has been leading the investigation into PwC, said the full report into the scandal was due in March.
“I am not sure from where Mr Sayers has gained the impression that there will be an absence of findings, reflections or recommendations on the person who presided as CEO over the gross misconduct that the Senate’s work has uncovered,” she said.
“Just as he feels he has unfinished business at Carlton, the Parliament’s work and the ongoing process of investigation, review and accountability are not yet done with Mr Sayers.”
The backlash to Mr Sayers’ plans came after he told Herald Sun chief football writer Mark Robinson that the PwC scandal did not impact his work at the Blues.
“It is still going through a process, but from my personal perspective, I believe that’s completed,” Mr Sayers said last week.
PwC was forced to sell its government consultancy business, which was valued at up to $1 billion, for $1 after it was revealed that senior figures had profited from passing on government secrets to clients.
Mr Sayers was not accused of being personally involved, but was running PwC at the time.
He apologised during a Senate hearing last year, saying the confidentiality breaches “happened on my watch”.
Mr Sayers was sent a detailed list of questions about his extension bid, including the warning from Senator O’Neill about the PwC report.
A staffer responded by pointing to last week’s interview where he made “extensive comments on both issues.”
The staffer added: “His leadership of the club was a decision for its members, with his commitment to serve until the end of 2025 solely based on ensuring the club was set up for sustained success well into the future.”
John Hollingsworth, a director at Softball Australia for almost a decade, was part of a Carlton group in 2021 that blocked the changes to the club’s rules that would have allowed Mr Sayers’ an automatic extension.
Mr Hollingsworth questioned why the club was “so dependent on Luke Sayers.”
“The lack of succession planning is an indictment on this Board,” he said.
“They now have to beg members to extend Luke by a year while they scurry around looking for a replacement.
“Why does the CFC Board continue to rely on people with questionable track records?”
Blues life member and former president of the Carltonians coterie group Vince Loccisano said he was “staggered” that Mr Sayers was asking for another 12 months.
Mr Loccisano, who ran the Carlton Now group that agitated for board change in 2021, said Mr Sayers should have stood down until the PwC investigation’s report was completed.
“Whether this passes the pub test in the minds of the Carlton members, let alone the Australian public at large, is a question that remains unanswered,” he said.
“In my opinion, it doesn’t.”
stephen.drill@news.com.au
Originally published as Luke Sayers’ Carlton Blues bid hit by PwC scandal
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