Senate hearing - Wednesday

[fulvio sammut]

The good senator displays a degree of dispassionate incisiveness and courage seldom seen in politicians of any persuasion.

[wasmute]

This should be fun!

http://www.theroar.com.au/2017/11/16...k-rebels-deal/

[Bakkies]

Excellent still no report from Fairfax shock horror.

Reynolds should nominate for the House of Reps at the next Federal Election. She would have a better chance of moving up the ranks in the lower house as she takes no nonsense from anyone and speaks clearly.

[UAUdiver1959]

Keith must be on holidays? Not a whisper, very disappointing. I will assume it’s dead in the media from now.

[Bakkies]

The predictable comments from the Rebels supporters on G&G are a plenty

[valzc]

The predictable comments from the Rebels supporters on G&G are a plenty

In denial, or assuming nothing will be done?

[Bakkies]

In denial, or assuming nothing will be done?

Typical stuff about the Rebels and VRU doing what it takes to protect their team who were up for the cull. They never were going to get culled ffs. That's outright delusion and ARU spin they are buying.

You also get the standard stuff about ASIC having bigger fish to fry.

[SteveWA]

They don't seem to get the point that there was likely criminal behaviour involved, and that there are serious consequences for that.

[UAUdiver1959]

I need to did out the article in the Australian when the VRU announced the ‘put’ option being handed back and the ARU went on record about not being notified. Caught them unaware, they were still trying to negotiate with Cox to buy the license back etc. this was early August. The info given to to Senators state the ARU instigated and facilitated that deal starting way back in a June. Sooooo, they continue to lie and mislead. Where is the article about that in the media? A real hatchet job and we were fed lies and mis truths all along whilst they shored up the team they wanted. I’m sure it’s all about the Vict Gov being able to give them more up front cash.

[Kalahard]

I need to did out the article in the Australian when the VRU announced the ‘put’ option being handed back and the ARU went on record about not being notified. Caught them unaware, they were still trying to negotiate with Cox to buy the license back etc. this was early August. The info given to to Senators state the ARU instigated and facilitated that deal starting way back in a June. Sooooo, they continue to lie and mislead. Where is the article about that in the media? A real hatchet job and we were fed lies and mis truths all along whilst they shored up the team they wanted. I’m sure it’s all about the Vict Gov being able to give them more up front cash.

https://www.theguardian.com/sport/20...icate-aru-cull

[SinBin]

Putting the yes vote news aside, has anyone heard a peak out of any local radio stations? If the AFL was referred for ASIC review it just may get some air time.

[Bakkies]

I see the RA haven't yet come out with a statement. Instead their headline is that three Force players have signed with the Rabble.

[Kalahard]

I haven't had time to go over the whole report but i have to say well done Senators Reynolds and Siewart. Senator Reynolds statement to the Senate was concise and left no one in doubt as to the digust and anger the charlatans at Rats Arse have caused to WA rugby and its supporters. We now have 3 administrative bodies in Rugby Union referred to ASIC for improper financial dealings, the ARU, Rebels and Brumbies. We now have proof the ARU mislead the rugby public in its charade to run a proper and fair process of evaluation on the franchises to be culled. We now have proof the ARU fudged its supporting information in culling the Force. We now know that a VRU Board member has a pecuniary interest in the unit trust behind Imperium. We now know that Imperium had accumulated losses of $24 million before buying the Rebels despite the ARUs and Coxes public statements about Coxes ability to turn around troubled businesses. We no know that Imperium was technically insolvent when buying the Rebels, $24 million in losses and a web of failed companies does not lie. We now have proof that the ARU was advising and funding the VRU takeover of the Rebels in June, 3 months before Clyne stated that culling the Rebels remained a "real possibility". We now have proof that the ARU is a closed shop to outsiders and has repeatedly made decisions that adversely affect Rugbys ability to grow and remain financially viable. We now have proof the ARU lied the Senate inquiry. We now have proof the ARU showed contempt for the Inquiry by trying to bully the senate into closing it down. We now have proof of the numerous public misrepresentations made by the ARU. We now have proof that the Alliance Agreement was negotiated in bad faith by the ARU. We now have proof that the VRU representatives lied to the Inquiry. We now have proof the ARU lied on its financial reports. And thats only a small summary of what ive read so far.

No doubt there are still some denialists out there trying to rubbish the report, the ARUs lawyers must be working overtime trying to spin a response or a victim statement about how unfair they've been treated. All i can say is, Rugby Australia, ARU, whatever you call yourself is this you've failed the rugby community of Australia. You've robbed the sport of growth, of opportunity and of money. You are fraudsters. Running a sporting organization does not make you above the law and it certainly does not make you invincible. It certainly does not give you the right to waste the sports money, steal the sports money or act in ways that bring the sport into disrepute. It does not give you the right to act in insular, self intersted, protectionist ways. And it most definitely does not give you the right to shit on Rugby people whether they are players, supporters, volunteers or families looking for entertainment and participation. You may think you can bully people, lie to the public and act like the victim but the truth will always win. The truth is now being exposed and confirmed. Its too late to save face now, the rebrand has been a disaster and the public want this administrations failings rectified and structures and checks and balances put in place to ensure future versions of the ARU do not make the same mistakes. Board of the ARU, it is time to resign, to move on. Rugby Union deserves better.

[Bakkies]

I see TWAS has surfaced stating that he can't see ASIC proving that people benefited from the ARU's decision. I have put him in his box.

[wholetruth]

I haven't had time to go over the whole report but i have to say well done Senators Reynolds and Siewart. Senator Reynolds statement to the Senate was concise and left no one in doubt as to the digust and anger the charlatans at Rats Arse have caused to WA rugby and its supporters. We now have 3 administrative bodies in Rugby Union referred to ASIC for improper financial dealings, the ARU, Rebels and Brumbies. We now have proof the ARU mislead the rugby public in its charade to run a proper and fair process of evaluation on the franchises to be culled. We now have proof the ARU fudged its supporting information in culling the Force. We now know that a VRU Board member has a pecuniary interest in the unit trust behind Imperium. We now know that Imperium had accumulated losses of $24 million before buying the Rebels despite the ARUs and Coxes public statements about Coxes ability to turn around troubled businesses. We no know that Imperium was technically insolvent when buying the Rebels, $24 million in losses and a web of failed companies does not lie. We now have proof that the ARU was advising and funding the VRU takeover of the Rebels in June, 3 months before Clyne stated that culling the Rebels remained a "real possibility". We now have proof that the ARU is a closed shop to outsiders and has repeatedly made decisions that adversely affect Rugbys ability to grow and remain financially viable. We now have proof the ARU lied the Senate inquiry. We now have proof the ARU showed contempt for the Inquiry by trying to bully the senate into closing it down. We now have proof of the numerous public misrepresentations made by the ARU. We now have proof that the Alliance Agreement was negotiated in bad faith by the ARU. We now have proof that the VRU representatives lied to the Inquiry. We now have proof the ARU lied on its financial reports. And thats only a small summary of what ive read so far.

No doubt there are still some denialists out there trying to rubbish the report, the ARUs lawyers must be working overtime trying to spin a response or a victim statement about how unfair they've been treated. All i can say is, Rugby Australia, ARU, whatever you call yourself is this you've failed the rugby community of Australia. You've robbed the sport of growth, of opportunity and of money. You are fraudsters. Running a sporting organization does not make you above the law and it certainly does not make you invincible. It certainly does not give you the right to waste the sports money, steal the sports money or act in ways that bring the sport into disrepute. It does not give you the right to act in insular, self intersted, protectionist ways. And it most definitely does not give you the right to shit on Rugby people whether they are players, supporters, volunteers or families looking for entertainment and participation. You may think you can bully people, lie to the public and act like the victim but the truth will always win. The truth is now being exposed and confirmed. Its too late to save face now, the rebrand has been a disaster and the public want this administrations failings rectified and structures and checks and balances put in place to ensure future versions of the ARU do not make the same mistakes. Board of the ARU, it is time to resign, to move on. Rugby Union deserves better.

Brilliantly put