NSW Racing boss Peter V'landys scathing of parliamentary inquiry into Rosehill Racecourse sale and redevelopment
"A gutless smear campaign." That's how the powerful boss of the New South Wales Racing has branded a parliamentary inquiry into a proposal to develop Sydney's Rosehill Racecourse. Peter V'landys clashed repeatedly with independent MP Mark Latham, who raised allegations the industry heavyweight presided over a culture of fear and reprisals.
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00:00He was the star witness at the Upper House Inquiry, but at times it seemed like Peter
00:06Volandis himself was in trial.
00:08The exact term was scuttlebutt, gossip around sexual harassment complaints.
00:13Do you have a response to that?
00:15Complete and utter rubbish.
00:17The Racing NSW Chief Executive's Prosecutor-in-Chief was Mark Latham.
00:22You smear me with no evidence.
00:24I've got evidence.
00:25No you don't.
00:26Mr Volandis, Mr Volandis.
00:27He questioned the Racing heavyweight about allegations made in confidential submissions.
00:32The toxic culture and environment of fear and reprisal at Racing NSW, including that
00:37staff have CCTV surveillance of them.
00:41They have their email and their web traffic monitored personally.
00:45Is this what's happening at Racing NSW?
00:47Absolute rubbish.
00:48Parliamentary privilege protects Mr Latham from being sued.
00:51He's a coward.
00:52He says it in Parliament.
00:54Come out here and say it.
00:55Come out here where there's recourse.
00:57I think it's disgraceful.
00:58It is the definition of the coward's castle.
01:01The Inquiry is probing a proposal to sell off Rosehill Racecourse near Parramatta and
01:06turn it into 25,000 homes alongside a metro station.
01:11The Australian Turf Club pitched the idea to the State Government.
01:14To secure a financial future with an income stream unreliant on wagering.
01:20As for how much the site is worth, all kinds of numbers are being thrown around.
01:25As is, no rezoning, walk in, walk out, $1.6 billion.
01:29But over time it would be worth far more, even more than that.
01:31The current valuation without breaching confidentiality is actually $23 billion.
01:35The land around a former brick pit at Homebush is being considered as a possible location
01:40for a new track.
01:41But its population of rare green and golden bell frogs have proved to be a hurdle in the
01:46past.
01:47The club, based in New South Wales, is carrying out engineering and environmental studies.
01:51Just make sure that we can co-exist with the frogs and the, I think it's ironically the
01:56latham birds.
01:57Latham snipe.
01:58Sorry, yeah.
01:59Appropriately named.
02:00Appropriately named.
02:01Ultimately the decision rests with the club's 12,500 members.
02:07The racecourse can't be sold unless most are in favour.
02:11It won't be put to the vote until due diligence is complete, which may not be until early
02:15next year.