Chapter 1 - Background to the inquiry

[1]        Australian Rugby Union (ARU), 'ARU to discontinue Western Force Super Rugby licence', Media release, 11 August 2017, http://aru.com.au/MediaReleases/Article/tabid/1699/ArticleID/18199/ARU-TO-DISCONTINUE-WESTERN-FORCE-SUPER-RUGBY-LICENCE.aspx (accessed 21 September 2017).

[2]        Mr William Pulver, Chief Executive Officer, ARU, Committee Hansard, 20 September 2017, p. 1; The Hon. Michael Murray, Minister for Sport and Recreation, Western Australian Parliament, Committee Hansard, 11 October 2017, p. 1; Name withheld, Submission 4, [p. 2]; Name withheld, Submission 9, [p. 2]; Mr Angus Tibbits, Submission 11, p. 1.

[3]        Journals of the Senate, No. 58, 6 September 2017, p. 1873.

[4]        Journals of the Senate, No. 68, 13 November 2017, p. 2190; Journals of the Senate, No. 69, 14 November 2017, p. 2208.

[5]        Mr Cameron Clyne, Chairman, ARU, Committee Hansard, 16 October 2017, p. 1; ARU, ARU Statement regarding Senate inquiry, 7 September 2017, http://www.aru.com.au/
MediaReleases/Article/tabid/1699/ArticleID/18209/ARU-STATEMENT-REGARDING-SENATE-INQUIRY.aspx (accessed 24 October 2017).

[6]        Australian Sports Commission, Annual Report 2015-16, p. 138 ($1 889 090); Australian Sports Commission, Annual Report 2014-15, p.  190 ($2 290 850); Australian Sports Commission, Annual Report 2013-14, p. 176 ($2 665 113).

[7]        Mr Tony Howarth, Chairman, Western Australian Rugby Union (RugbyWA), Committee Hansard, 20 September 2017, p. 32; Mr Mark Sinderberry, Former Chief Executive Officer, RugbyWA, Committee Hansard, 20 September 2017, p. 34; Mr Ross Xenos, Chief Executive Officer, Rugby Union Players' Association (RUPA), Committee Hansard, 11 October 2017, p. 8; Mr John Welborn, Committee Hansard, 11 October 2017, p. 38; Dr David Masters, Submission 3, p. 2; Name withheld, Submission 4, pp. 3–4; Mr Gary Gleeson, Submission 8, p. 2; Name withheld, Submission 12, [pp. 1–2]; Name withheld, Submission 15, p. 11; Name withheld, Submission 16, [p. 1]; Name withheld, Submission 17, p. 3.

[8]        Mr Pulver, Committee Hansard, 20 September 2017, p. 2.

[9]        Mr Pulver, Committee Hansard, 20 September 2017, pp. 2, 7–8.

[10]      Mr Pulver, Committee Hansard, 20 September 2017, p. 8.

[11]      ARU Constitution, cl. 3.2(a).

[12]      ARU Constitution, cl. 5.

[13]      Mr Pulver, Committee Hansard, 20 September 2017, p. 16.

[14]      Mr Xenos, Committee Hansard, 11 October 2017, p. 8.

[15]      Mr Pulver, Committee Hansard, 20 September 2017, p. 10.

[16]      Mr Pulver, Committee Hansard, 20 September 2017, p. 10.

[17]      RUPA, Submission 1, [p. 3].

[18]      Mr Pulver, Committee Hansard, 20 September 2017, p. 9.

[19]      Mr Pulver, Committee Hansard, 20 September 2017, p. 2.

[20]      Mr Pulver, Committee Hansard, 20 September 2017, p. 9.

Chapter 2 - The ARU's decision making

[1]        Mr William Pulver, Chief Executive Officer, Australian Rugby Union (ARU), Committee Hansard, 20 September 2017, p. 9.

[2]        Mr Cameron Clyne, Chairman, ARU, Committee Hansard, 16 October 2017, pp. 11, 12. 

[3]        Mr Pulver, Committee Hansard, 20 September 2017, p. 2.

[4]        Mr Pulver, Committee Hansard, 20 September 2017, pp. 9–10.

[5]        Mr Pulver, Committee Hansard, 20 September 2017, p. 10.

[6]        Mr Pulver, Committee Hansard, 20 September 2017, pp. 13–14.

[7]        Mr Pulver, Committee Hansard, 20 September 2017, pp. 14, 20.

[8]        Mr Pulver, Committee Hansard, 20 September 2017, p. 3.

[9]        ARU, Supporting Documentation, [p. 3], http://www.rugbyaustralia.com.au/portals/1/SUPPORTING-DOCUMENTATION-THE-FUTURE-OF-SUPER-RUGBY.pdf (accessed 8 November 2017) (Supporting Documentation).

[10]      Mr Pulver, Committee Hansard, 20 September 2017, p. 2.

[11]      Mr Pulver, Committee Hansard, 20 September 2017, p. 3.

[12]      Name withheld, Submission 16, [p. 6].

[13]      Mr Angus Tibbits, Submission 11, p. 5.

[14]      Mr Clyne, Committee Hansard, 16 October 2017, p. 11.

[15]      Mr Pulver, Committee Hansard, 20 September 2017, p. 2; Mr Mark Sinderberry, Former Chief Executive Officer, Western Australia Rugby Union Inc (RugbyWA), Committee Hansard, 20 September 2017, p. 32; Mr Peter Leahy, Committee Hansard, 11 October 2017, p. 42; Mr  Clyne, Committee Hansard, 16 October 2017, p. 12.

[16]      Mr Pulver, Committee Hansard, 20 September 2017, p. 2.

[17]      Richard Gluyas, 'Shifting goalposts: Clyne packs down to save rugby from AFL raiders', The Weekend Australian, 15 April 2017, p. 23. See also: Dr David Masters, Submission 3, p. 7. The graph was first demonstrated at an ARU press conference on 10 April 2017: Mr Andrew Luscombe, Submission 7, [p. 6].

[18]      Mr Clyne, Committee Hansard, 16 October 2017, p. 3.

[19]      Mr Clyne, Committee Hansard, 16 October 2017, p. 12.

[20]      Mr Angus Tibbits, Submission 11, p. 5; Name withheld, Submission 15, p. 10.

[21]      Dr David Masters, Submission 3, pp. 8–9; Mr Andrew Luscombe, Submission 7, [pp. 6, 7].

[22]      Mr Andrew Luscombe, Submission 7, [p. 7].

[23]      Mr Andrew Luscombe, Submission 7, [p. 7].

[24]      See paragraph 1.1.

[25]      RugbyWA, Annual Report 2006, p. 1.

[26]      Mr Mark Sinderberry, answer to question on notice 13, 20 September 2017 (received 3 October 2017). 

[27]      Mr Sinderberry, Committee Hansard, 20 September 2017, p. 36.

[28]      Western Australian Rugby Union v Australian Rugby Union [2017] NSWSC 1174, [6].

[29]      ARU, Supporting Documentation, [p. 6],

[30]      Mr Tony Howarth, Chairman, Western Australian Rugby Union, Committee Hansard, 20 September 2017, p. 31.

[31]      ARU, Supporting Documentation, [p. 10].

[32]      Mr Howarth, Committee Hansard, 20 September 2017, p. 31.

[33]      ARU, Supporting Documentation, [p. 11].

[34]      Western Australian Rugby Union v Australian Rugby Union [2017] NSWSC 1174, [8].

[35]      ARU, Supporting Documentation, [pp. 11–12].

[36]      ARU, Supporting Documentation, [p. 4].

[37]      ARU, Supporting Documentation, [p. 11].

[38]      ARU, Supporting Documentation, [p. 8].

[39]      Western Australian Rugby Union v Australian Rugby Union [2017] NSWSC 1174.

[40]      Journals of the Senate, No. 58, 6 September 2017, p. 1873.

[41]      ARU, Supporting Documentation, [p. 5].

[42]      ARU, Supporting Documentation, [pp. 5–6].

[43]      Mr Pulver, Committee Hansard, 20 September 2017, p. 3.

[44]      Mr Pulver, Committee Hansard, 20 September 2017, p. 2.

[45]      ARU, 'ARU to Consult Force and Rebels as Super Rugby Moves to 15 Teams in 2018', Media release, 10 April 2017.

[46]      ARU, Supporting Documentation, [p. 10].

[47]      Mr Pulver, Committee Hansard, 20 September 2017, p. 4. See also: ARU, Supporting Documentation, [p. 4].

[48]      Mr Pulver, Committee Hansard, 20 September 2017, p. 4.

[49]      Mr Pulver, Committee Hansard, 20 September 2017, p. 4.

[50]      Mr Tim North QC, President, Victorian Rugby Union, Committee Hansard, 11 October 2017, pp. 19–20.

[51]      Mr North, Committee Hansard, 11 October 2017, p.17.

[52]      Mr Pulver, Committee Hansard, 20 September 2017, p. 4.

[53]      ARU, Supporting Documentation, [p. 4].

[54]      Mr Pulver, Committee Hansard, 20 September 2017, p. 4.

[55]      Mr Howarth, Committee Hansard, 20 September 2017, p. 30. For further information on the Alliance Agreement see below.

[56]      Mr Pulver, Committee Hansard, 20 September 2017, pp. 4, 16.

[57]      Mr Pulver, Committee Hansard, 20 September 2017, p. 4.

[58]      Mr Pulver, Committee Hansard, 20 September 2017, pp. 20, 24.

[59]      ARU, Supporting Documentation, [p. 3.].

[60]      ARU, Supporting Documentation, [p. 4].

[61]      Mr Pulver, Committee Hansard, 20 September 2017, pp. 19–20.

[62]      The Hon. Michael Murray, Minister for Sport and Recreation, Western Australian Parliament, Committee Hansard, 11 October 2017, p. 2.

[63]      ARU, Supporting Documentation, [p. 12].

[64]      ARU, Supporting Documentation, [p. 8].

[65]      Mr Howarth, Committee Hansard, 20 September 2017, p. 30.

[66]      Mr Howarth, Committee Hansard, 20 September 2017, p. 31.

[67]      Western Australian Rugby Union v Australian Rugby Union [2017] NSWSC 1174, [12].

[68]      Australian Rugby Union, 'ARU to Discontinue Western Force Super Rugby Licence', Media release, 11 August 2017.

[69]      Mr Pulver, Committee Hansard, 20 September 2017, p. 4.

[70]      Minister Murray, Committee Hansard, 11 October 2017, p. 1.

[71]      Minister Murray, Committee Hansard, 11 October 2017, p. 2.

[72]      Minister Murray, Committee Hansard, 11 October 2017, p. 4.

[73]      Committee Hansard, 20 September 2017, p. 30.

[74]      Committee Hansard, 20 September 2017, p. 32–33.

[75]      Mr Pulver, Committee Hansard, 20 September 2017, p. 17.

[76]      Mr Mark Sinderberry, answers to questions on notice, 20 September 2017 (received 3 October 2017).

[77]      Mr Sinderberry, Committee Hansard, 20 September 2017, p. 33.

[78]      Mr Howarth, Committee Hansard, 20 September 2017, p. 30.

[79]      Mr Howarth, Committee Hansard, 20 September 2017, p. 30; Mr Clyne, Committee Hansard, 16 October 2017, p. 11.

[80]      Western Australian Rugby Union v Australian Rugby Union Ltd [2017] NSWSC 1174, [3].

[81]      Western Australian Rugby Union v Australian Rugby Union Ltd [2017] NSWSC 1174, [8].

[82]      Western Australian Rugby Union v Australian Rugby Union Ltd [2017] NSWSC 1174, [12].

[83]      RUPA, Submission 1, [p. 11]; Name withheld, Submission 4, [pp. 2, 4]; Mr Gary Gleeson, Submission 8, p. 6; Name withheld, Submission 15, [p. 9].

[84]      Name withheld, Submission 4, [p. 2].

[85]      Name withheld, Submission 13, p. 3.

[86]      Name withheld, Submission 13, [p. 1].

[87]      Minister Murray, Committee Hansard, 11 October 2017, p. 6; Government of Western Australia, answers to questions on notice, 11 October 2017, p. 2 (received 20 October 2017); Mr John Welborn, Committee Hansard, 11 October 2017, p. 37.

[88]      Committee Hansard, 11 October 2017, p. 6.

[89]      Government of Western Australia, answers to questions on notice, 11 October 2017, p. 2 (received 20 October 2017).

[90]      Minister Murray, Committee Hansard, 11 October 2017, p. 4.

[91]      Mr Howarth, Committee Hansard, 20 September 2017, p. 31.

[92]      Mr Howarth, Committee Hansard, 20 September 2017, p. 31.

[93]      Mr Clarke, Committee Hansard, 11 October 2017, p. 28.

[94]      Mr North, Committee Hansard, 11 October 2017, p. 19.

[95]      Mr Clyne, Committee Hansard, 16 October 2017, p. 18; Mr John Edwards, Vice-Chairman, RugbyWA, correspondence received 19 October 2017, [p. 1].

[96]      Mr North, Committee Hansard, 11 October 2017, p. 24.

[97]      Mr North, Committee Hansard, 11 October 2017, p. 24.

[98]      Mr Howarth, Committee Hansard, 20 September 2017 p. 31.

[99]      Mr North, Committee Hansard, 11 October 2017, p. 17.

[100]    Mr North, Committee Hansard, 11 October 2017, p. 24.

[101]    Committee Hansard, 11 October 2017, p. 36.

[102]    Mr Welborn, Committee Hansard, 11 October 2017, p. 37.

[103]    Mr Clyne, Committee Hansard, 16 October 2017, p. 2.

[104]    Mr David Vaux, Director, RugbyWA, correspondence received 19 October 2017, pp. 2–3.

[105]    Mr Pulver, Committee Hansard, 20 September 2017, p. 4.

[106]    Mr Clyne, Committee Hansard, 16 October 2017, p. 13.

[107]    Minister Murray, Committee Hansard, 11 October 2017, p. 5.

[108]    RUPA, Submission 1, [p. 6].

[109]    RUPA, Submission 1, [p. 12].

[110]    Mr Xenos, Committee Hansard, 11 October 2017, p. 16.

Chapter 3 - Corporate Governance

[1]        Mr Angus Tibbits, Submission 11, p. 8.

[2]        Mr Ross Xenos, Chief Executive Officer, Rugby Union Players' Association (RUPA), Committee Hansard, 11 October 2017, p. 8.

[3]        Mr Tibbits, Submission 11, p. 8 (Square brackets in original).

[4]        Mr Tibbits, Submission 11, p. 8.

[5]        Mr Xenos, Committee Hansard, 11 October 2017, pp. 7–8.

[6]        Mr Clyne, Committee Hansard, 16 October 2017, p. 3.

[7]        Mr Tibbits, Submission 11, p. 8.

[8]        Name withheld, Submission 15, p. 2 (emphasis removed).

[9]        Name withheld, Submission 15, p. 2.

[10]      Mr Tim North QC, President, Victorian Rugby Union, Committee Hansard, 11 October 2017, p. 20; Mr Peter Leahy, Committee Hansard, 11 October 2017, p. 42; Name withheld, Submission 15, p. 3.

[11]      Mr Cameron Clyne, Chairman, Australian Rugby Union (ARU), Committee Hansard, 16 October 2017, p. 13.

[12]      Mr Clyne, Committee Hansard, 16 October 2017, p. 7.

[13]      Name withheld, Submission 12, [p. 1].

[14]      Committee Hansard, 11 October 2017, p. 30.

[15]      Mr Alan Winney, Submission 19, [p. 2]; Mr Pulver, Committee Hansard, 20 September 2017, p. 4.

[16]      Mr William Pulver, Chief Executive Officer, ARU, Committee Hansard, 20 September 2017, p. 4; Mr North, Committee Hansard, 11 October 2017, p. 26; Mr Rob Clarke, Committee Hansard, 11 October 2017, p. 32.

[17]      Mr Clyne, Committee Hansard, 16 October 2017, p. 12.

[18]      LexisNexis, Halsbury's Laws of Australia, '120-Corporations' [120-20005] (at 23 August 2016).

[19]      Mr Pulver, Committee Hansard, 20 September 2017, pp. 21, 22, 29; Name withheld, Submission 15, p. 7.

[20]      Committee Hansard, 11 October 2017, p. 32.

[21]      Name withheld, Submission 15, p. 7.

[22]      Mr Pulver, Committee Hansard, 20 September 2017, p. 23.

[23]      Name withheld, Submission 15, p. 7.

[24]      Mr Pulver, Committee Hansard, 20 September 2017, p. 22; Name withheld, Submission 15, pp. 7–8.

[25]      Mr Pulver, Committee Hansard, 20 September 2017, p. 22; Name withheld, Submission 15, p. 10.

[26]      Mr North, Committee Hansard, 11 October 2017, p. 21.

[27]      Mr Alan Winney, Submission 19, [p. 2].

[28]      Mr Alan Winney, Submission 19, [p. 2].

[29]      Mr Rob Clarke, Committee Hansard, 11 October 2017, p. 30.

[30]      Mr Alan Winney, Submission 19, [p. 2].

[31]      Mr Xenos, Committee Hansard, 11 October 2017, p. 12.

[32]      Mr Pulver, Committee Hansard, 20 September 2017, p. 6.

[33]      Mr Pulver, Committee Hansard, 20 September 2017, p. 6.

[34]      Mr Xenos, Committee Hansard, 11 October 2017, p. 10.

[35]      Mr  Tibbits, Submission 11, p. 11.

[36]      Mr David Hawkins, Submission 6, p. 2.

[37]      Mr David Hawkins, Submission 6, p. 6.

[38]      Western Australian Government, Submission 18, p. 2.

[39]      Mr Gary Gleeson, Submission 8, p. 3.

[40]      Mr Gary Gleeson, Submission 8, p. 5.

[41]      Mr Gary Gleeson, Submission 8, p. 6.

[42]      Mr Xenos, Committee Hansard, 11 October 2017, p. 10.

[43]      Mr Pulver, Committee Hansard, 11 October 2017, p. 3.

[44]      New South Wales Rugby Union, Submission 5, pp. 1–3, 5–7; Mr David Hawkins, Submission 6, p. 5; Mr Tibbits, Submission 11, pp. 5–12; Name withheld, Submission 16, pp. 1–2, 5; Name withheld, Submission 17, pp. 2–3.

[45]      Australian Securities and Investments Commission, Company Summary: Australian Rugby Union Limited, accessed 20 October 2017.

[46]      See for example Corporations Act 2001 (Cth), ss. 180–184.

[47]      Corporations Act 2001 (Cth), s. 180.

[48]      Corporations Act 2001 (Cth), s. 181.

[49]      Corporations Act 2001 (Cth), s. 292.

[50]      Corporations Act 2001 (Cth), s. 297.

[51]      Corporations Act 2001 (Cth), s. 299(1)(b).

[52]      Corporations Act 2001 (Cth), s. 299(1)(d).

[53]      Name withheld, Submission 17, p. 3.

[54]      ARU, Supporting Documentation, [p. 5], http://www.rugbyaustralia.com.au/portals/1/SUPPORTING-DOCUMENTATION-THE-FUTURE-OF-SUPER-RUGBY.pdf (accessed 8 November 2017) (Supporting Documentation); Mr Pulver, Committee Hansard, 20 September 2017, p. 2.

[55]      ARU, Annual Report 2016, p. 54.

[56]      ARU, Annual Report 2016, p. 51.

[57]      Name withheld, Submission 17, p. 3.

[58]      ARU, Annual Report 2016, p. 54.

[59]      ARU, Annual Report 2016, p. 54.

[60]      Name withheld, Submission 17, [p. 3].

[61]      Name withheld, Submission 17, [p. 3].

[62]      Committee Hansard, 16 October 2017, pp. 16–17.

[63]      Mr Clyne, Committee Hansard, 16 October 2017, p. 17.

[64]      Mr David Hawkins, Submission 6, p. 5.

[65]      ARU, Strengthening the governance of Australian Rugby Union, August 2012, pp. 21–24.

[66]      Mr David Hawkins, Submission 6, p. 5.

[67]      New South Wales Rugby Union, Submission 5, pp. 1–2.

[68]      Mr Tibbits, Submission 11, p. 11.

[69]      Mr Pulver, Committee Hansard, 20 September 2017, p. 6.