Statement regarding investigation into Greyhound Racing NSW Board
Friday 14 February 2025
The NSW Independent Commission Against Corruption (“the Commission”) has concluded an investigation into the Greyhound Racing NSW (GRNSW) Board.
The investigation has not identified any evidence of corrupt conduct on the part of any GRNSW Board member.
The investigation commenced following the receipt of a 30 June 2023 letter from Minister for Gaming and Racing the Hon David Harris MP concerning certain governance matters at GRNSW. Correspondence from a number of individuals was also attached, setting out various allegations concerning former GRNSW Chief Executive Officer (CEO) Robert Macaulay and the GRNSW Board.
The investigation included the review of relevant documents and the use of the Commission’s coercive powers.
The Commission’s investigation did not identify any evidence of corrupt conduct on the part of any member of the GRNSW Board. In view of this conclusion, it was unnecessary to consider further allegations against Mr Macaulay that related to the Board. The Commission also notes that Mr Macaulay’s conduct had been the subject of two reports commissioned by the GRNSW Board, which were obtained and reviewed by the Commission.
The Commission has therefore determined to discontinue its investigation and will not be taking any further action with respect to these matters.
Members of the GRNSW Board are NSW public officials as they are appointed by the Governor and therefore come within the Commission’s jurisdiction. Whether the GRNSW CEO is a NSW public official is dependent on whether GRNSW is a “public authority” within s 3 of the Independent Commission Against Corruption Act 1988 (“the ICAC Act”). In the circumstances, it was not necessary for the Commission to determine that issue.
The Commission notes that the definition of “public authority” in section 3 of the ICAC Act includes “a body, or the holder of an office, declared by the regulations to be a body or office within this definition”. In writing to inform the Minister today about the outcome of the investigation, the Commission has suggested that the Minister may wish to consider whether section 19 of the Independent Commission Against Corruption Regulation 2017 should be amended to include GRNSW as a public authority for the purposes of the ICAC Act, to remove any doubt that GRNSW employees are public officials for the purposes of that Act.
The Commission has also informed the Greyhound Welfare Integrity Commission about the decision to conclude its investigation.
The Commission will not be making further comment.