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20 Jun 12
05:31
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23 Jul 04
oh happy days..FINALLY ,now whose the bad guy
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failed punters do not administrators make....and so it goes
http://www.ombudsman.vic.gov.au/resources/documents/Investigation_into_Greyh...
it would appear that don'tsayit, has ,in fact ,said it!
could be the end of teir3,on perhaps they have shed more than 3 tears over this report.
hard for things to look transparent when the wool is being pulled over your eyes
Looks like the "Watch Dogs" have caught up with The Watchdog
Good to see them challenged. Have answered to themselves for years, couldn't care less about anyone else. alias :-)
is this why j stephens resigned a month or 2 ago ?? he must of known to get out while his record was untarnished
to me a few officals having a bet is nothing compared to past issues with greyhound stewards in NSW or the current issues with the NSW harness stewards.
They already knew by that stage waffle. A shoulder tap occurred imo.
But do we really want non punters(bettors)running the show? Can't be good in my opinion,it's sort of like going into a TAB and the person behind the counter doesn't know anything about betting,it doesn't encourage business.What going to be next Bookies,Bookies clerks not being allowed to have a bet?
Back to Greyhound Racing officials (and all GRV staff) not being allowed to have a bet ,great,picture this,a person who is interested in becoming a new owner with lots of cash to invest goes out to Sandown or Meadows and runs into a new Board Member or CEO.Asks for a tip is told 'can't help'I am not allowed to bet so I don't know anything about betting.Hello we are in the "Gambling Industry" aren't we.What next, not allowed to recommend a trainer ?
Back to Greyhound Racing officials (and all GRV staff) not being allowed to have a bet ,great,picture this,a person who is interested in becoming a new owner with lots of cash to invest goes out to Sandown or Meadows and runs into a new Board Member or CEO.Asks for a tip is told 'can't help'I am not allowed to bet so I don't know anything about betting.Hello we are in the "Gambling Industry" aren't we.What next, not allowed to recommend a trainer ?
75. I also note that the Racing Act requires that at least one and not more
than two Board members have experience in the greyhound racing
industry.
Relevant piece of info re your last post BL.
than two Board members have experience in the greyhound racing
industry.
Relevant piece of info re your last post BL.
Son of Sobbing Sal, i tend to agree. however i'm sure they have clearly breached policy & that policy is there for integrity reasons.
It would be expected that a grader or steward that spends his day studying greyhound form would fancy a punt. Personally i dont see any real problems provided they can't influence results in any way & proper processes are in place to ensure that any sort of corruption doesnt take place.
It would be expected that a grader or steward that spends his day studying greyhound form would fancy a punt. Personally i dont see any real problems provided they can't influence results in any way & proper processes are in place to ensure that any sort of corruption doesnt take place.
i understand the need for a gambling background, but turning over 1.4 million over 3 years is a bit far, considering he was a senior manager and finishing at 4pm so he could punt, should have still been at work
please no-one defend these guys...this is just the tip of a very large iceberg,for years and years and years,and then some more there have been danger signs,many pointed out and ignored(not for their content,but because of where the concerns were coming from),finally someone else has seen the signs,read the map and arrived at a conclusion.
Hold your hats if they ever start pulling apart certain old boys clubs,and i ain't talking amateur footy.
Hold your hats if they ever start pulling apart certain old boys clubs,and i ain't talking amateur footy.
Cant agree more Ziggy
Please Kye and Brett Lee why do they need to look at form why do they need to give tips
why do they need to bet... There is no way any of these people including the CEO should be allowed to bet
Maybe board members could because they would have next to invlovement in the day to day running of GRV offices
And brett lee if i was owner that had heaps of cash and went GRV offices to process some form for one of many dogs
i noticed i bloke at the desk having a bet on the dog race... i think id be asking for a change of ownership form
Please Kye and Brett Lee why do they need to look at form why do they need to give tips
why do they need to bet... There is no way any of these people including the CEO should be allowed to bet
Maybe board members could because they would have next to invlovement in the day to day running of GRV offices
And brett lee if i was owner that had heaps of cash and went GRV offices to process some form for one of many dogs
i noticed i bloke at the desk having a bet on the dog race... i think id be asking for a change of ownership form
Free to ur opinion Nick but in my view it is harmless compared to previous actions uncovered in NSW & many years ago in Victoria. At least if they bet they have an interest in the sport.
the only people in the grv who need to know about form are the graders and stewards, all of whom should be above reproach and approach.Seemingly that has not been the policy.
What policies? They may have had them in place but the vast majority were unenforceable! Having to pay out 55K to initially terminated employees is unforgivable.
Ex dogs racing boss placed bets, mismanaged
June 20, 2012 - 12:49PM
Victoria's top greyhound racing official engaged in inappropriate conduct by betting on races during his lunch breaks and overseeing sub-standard multi-million dollar contracts, according to a report by the state ombudsman.
In a report tabled in parliament this morning, Ombudsman George Brouwer found that the now former CEO of Greyhound Racing Victoria, John Stephens, presided over an organisation in which staff regularly engaged in poor practices and conflicts of interest.
Mr Stephens, who stood down as CEO earlier this year, told the ombudsman he had placed bets during his lunch hour.
Mr Brouwer's report seized on the findings of an investigation last year by the Racing Integrity Commissioner, Sal Perna, which found that several GRV staff were regularly betting on races during work hours, in breach of the agency's rules.
Mr Perna's report led to an overhaul of integrity practices at GRV and the resignation of several staff.
However, ombudsman George Brouwer discovered that two GRV managers who were given "first and final warnings" for placing bets during work hours— in breach of GRV policy — were given salary increases just a month after being disciplined.
One of those officials, senior manager Mark Dooley, had placed more than 4000 bets— totalling $508,705— during work hours over a three-year period.
But four weeks after the discovery of his betting activity, Mr Dooley was given a salary increase and a $10,000 bonus payment by GRV.
Mr Dooley also left GRV earlier this year.
Mr Browuer found that "several of GRV's senior management team, including the CEO [Mr Stephens] not only ignored this behaviour [involving betting on races during work hours], but were also active participants in betting."
"Rewarding senior managers with salary increases and a bonus who less than one month earlier were found to have breached GRV's policies for 'unacceptable behaviour' was also inappropriate," Mr Brouwer found.
GRV has now banned all employees from betting on greyhound races, including out of hours, because of their role running and overseeing the sport. Today, a spokesman for GRV said there is no suggestion that any races have been compromised.
Mr Brouwer also found that GRV's tendering and contracting practices were "not compliant with legislative requirements" and that that some GRV staff had engaged in inappropriate behaviour, including getting a GRV contractor to give them free advice on their home renovations.
Mr Brouwer was highly critical of Mr Stephens' failure to ensure GRV adhered to public service procurement guidelines.
"In response to my draft report, Mr Stephens said that he was not aware of the public sector requirements ... I cannot accept that after 12 years in the position as GRV's chief executive officer, that Mr Stephens did not understand his public sector responsibilities."
In another example of Mr Stephens' inappropriate behaviour, Mr Brouwer said that the now former CEO had given his daughter advice on how his son-in-law — a GRV steward who was sacked last year for betting on races — could lodge an employment claim with GRV after he was fired.
GRV has accepted Mr Brouwer's recommendations and has already implemented a range of reforms.
GRV Chairman Peter Caillard told Mr Brouwer that the organisation accepted the report "and regards it as an opportunity to make considerable improvements to its operations."
Read more: http://www.theage.com.au/victoria/ex-dogs-racing-boss-placed-bets-mismanaged...
June 20, 2012 - 12:49PM
Victoria's top greyhound racing official engaged in inappropriate conduct by betting on races during his lunch breaks and overseeing sub-standard multi-million dollar contracts, according to a report by the state ombudsman.
In a report tabled in parliament this morning, Ombudsman George Brouwer found that the now former CEO of Greyhound Racing Victoria, John Stephens, presided over an organisation in which staff regularly engaged in poor practices and conflicts of interest.
Mr Stephens, who stood down as CEO earlier this year, told the ombudsman he had placed bets during his lunch hour.
Mr Brouwer's report seized on the findings of an investigation last year by the Racing Integrity Commissioner, Sal Perna, which found that several GRV staff were regularly betting on races during work hours, in breach of the agency's rules.
Mr Perna's report led to an overhaul of integrity practices at GRV and the resignation of several staff.
However, ombudsman George Brouwer discovered that two GRV managers who were given "first and final warnings" for placing bets during work hours— in breach of GRV policy — were given salary increases just a month after being disciplined.
One of those officials, senior manager Mark Dooley, had placed more than 4000 bets— totalling $508,705— during work hours over a three-year period.
But four weeks after the discovery of his betting activity, Mr Dooley was given a salary increase and a $10,000 bonus payment by GRV.
Mr Dooley also left GRV earlier this year.
Mr Browuer found that "several of GRV's senior management team, including the CEO [Mr Stephens] not only ignored this behaviour [involving betting on races during work hours], but were also active participants in betting."
"Rewarding senior managers with salary increases and a bonus who less than one month earlier were found to have breached GRV's policies for 'unacceptable behaviour' was also inappropriate," Mr Brouwer found.
GRV has now banned all employees from betting on greyhound races, including out of hours, because of their role running and overseeing the sport. Today, a spokesman for GRV said there is no suggestion that any races have been compromised.
Mr Brouwer also found that GRV's tendering and contracting practices were "not compliant with legislative requirements" and that that some GRV staff had engaged in inappropriate behaviour, including getting a GRV contractor to give them free advice on their home renovations.
Mr Brouwer was highly critical of Mr Stephens' failure to ensure GRV adhered to public service procurement guidelines.
"In response to my draft report, Mr Stephens said that he was not aware of the public sector requirements ... I cannot accept that after 12 years in the position as GRV's chief executive officer, that Mr Stephens did not understand his public sector responsibilities."
In another example of Mr Stephens' inappropriate behaviour, Mr Brouwer said that the now former CEO had given his daughter advice on how his son-in-law — a GRV steward who was sacked last year for betting on races — could lodge an employment claim with GRV after he was fired.
GRV has accepted Mr Brouwer's recommendations and has already implemented a range of reforms.
GRV Chairman Peter Caillard told Mr Brouwer that the organisation accepted the report "and regards it as an opportunity to make considerable improvements to its operations."
Read more: http://www.theage.com.au/victoria/ex-dogs-racing-boss-placed-bets-mismanaged...
was mark dooley the'grader'?if so his betting is really bad.
nickw I also read with interest 'Recommendation 1' GRV implement a policy to prohibit the ownership of greyhounds by all staff employed by GRV.I spoke to a trainer at Meadows this afternoon who was wondering what will happen if (and when)these recommendations take effect,seeing that he has 1 or 2 such greyhounds in his kennel.
The Ombudsman Report is very damming. Not only to the gambling and inappropriate behaviour of the CEO and staff, but to possible disturbing circumstances which boggles the mind.
Tender contactual information, and we are talking millions of dollars, have become missing.
Files and documents were stored loosely and not in any order
in cabinets and on the floor of Mr Dooley’s office. This included
documents relating to projects that had finished more than two
years earlier.
• The records were incomplete and Mr Dooley and his assistant were
unable to locate for all the four projects under review:
• Copies of tender submissions and project tender evaluation
reports
• Copies of the signed contractor contracts entered into with
GRV.
• Mr Dooley was also unsure as to the whereabouts of all relevant
documentation relating to the projects.
Take into account these tenders were gifted to the same firm
Tender contactual information, and we are talking millions of dollars, have become missing.
Files and documents were stored loosely and not in any order
in cabinets and on the floor of Mr Dooley’s office. This included
documents relating to projects that had finished more than two
years earlier.
• The records were incomplete and Mr Dooley and his assistant were
unable to locate for all the four projects under review:
• Copies of tender submissions and project tender evaluation
reports
• Copies of the signed contractor contracts entered into with
GRV.
• Mr Dooley was also unsure as to the whereabouts of all relevant
documentation relating to the projects.
Take into account these tenders were gifted to the same firm
truthful, sounds like he was too busy punting & doing form to do his job properly. I'm the same! Can't wait to get sacked so i can punt fulltime.
He is not any relation to Des is he? punting might be in his blood
He is not any relation to Des is he? punting might be in his blood
He is the son of Des. And the contractors could not supply details to the ombusman as well. Smells a bit
no surprise he is decent size punter then. How did he get a job there in first place???
Most likeley as a favour. CEO was also critisised for asking favours in report.
well then Truthful,bank records will tell a nice story,after all the grv have spent,given,donated the money for these works 'cause they haven't got it now.
on a related thought ...what happens to ballarat re-build now?
on a related thought ...what happens to ballarat re-build now?
Was eagerly waiting for Ballarat to reopen, as it was one of my favourite tracks as a punting proposition. Why they closed it for further redelopment amazes me, but now it may takes ages to complete.
Tender applications will have to be put in place, and new contracts will be given so who knows how long this will be. They may have to put Ballarat on hold until this mess is cleard up
Tender applications will have to be put in place, and new contracts will be given so who knows how long this will be. They may have to put Ballarat on hold until this mess is cleard up
i,too liked ballarat as it was...i am hating the 'new' geelong although winning at it.How do you find it compared to the old track?and do u like the inner track at all?
Don't mind the outer track at all, but i wager very little on the inner track, too much interference, not on the first turn but mainly on the home turn. Banking on home turn is nil, and dogs find it hard to get a grip. But on a whole inner track sh@thouse.
Not a wrap for new chaiman either. When he stated what a great incentive Tier 3 was for racing showed me he had no knowledge of dog racing whatsoever. He only understnds the business model which is not good for greyhound racing as a quality specticale.
very reasonable comment.tier3 is only there to fill up sky airtime slots otherwise left vacant.it promotes a lack of excellence and rewards under achievers.politically correct ,like giving participation ribbons/certificates to 15 y.o netballers and footballers.
HES BEEN PUNTING LIKE A MACHINE FOR YEARS, ITS COMMON KNOWLEDGE AND ONE OF HIS MATES GOT THE JOB AS GRADER......
Any repercussions for the other codes. Harness don't let stewards or racing staff bet but CEO can bet as can form analysts ?
THE TENDER PROCESS.
Poor procurement practices give rise to risks including fraud and my
investigation has identified that the following risks have not been
adequately managed by GRV:
• Open and fair competition:
• GRV procurement processes are not fair or transparent
• GRV cannot be assured that it has obtained best value-formoney
for the government and the community
Transparency: Supporting documentation relating to multi-million
dollar capital works were not available to enable scrutiny of the
decisions taken; records were incomplete, and were kept in a
disorderly manner on an office floor or retained at the offices of the
consultant.
Poor procurement practices give rise to risks including fraud and my
investigation has identified that the following risks have not been
adequately managed by GRV:
• Open and fair competition:
• GRV procurement processes are not fair or transparent
• GRV cannot be assured that it has obtained best value-formoney
for the government and the community
Transparency: Supporting documentation relating to multi-million
dollar capital works were not available to enable scrutiny of the
decisions taken; records were incomplete, and were kept in a
disorderly manner on an office floor or retained at the offices of the
consultant.
i wonder if they found any empty brown paper bags amongst his files
GRV are proof positive of just how gullible greyhound people can be. By sheer luck they got the deal of a lifetime, and then traded off that deal ever since.
So poorly run and incompetent were they that in the end, none of the other greyhound states would co-operate with them. Just look at Fast-track, late and a poor clone of what NSW and WA already had, and its still not ready.
New tracks, that even when newly built were derided as being worse than what they replaced.
A grading policy that catered towards a small 'elite' group of dogs that ended up gutting the Vic breeding pool.
They took trainers who not only were rumoured to be corrupt or dishonest, but had been found so in official inquiries and turned them into 'legends'.
If you ever want to know what happens to 'bogans' who have won lotto and then been left unsupervised, then look at GRV.
But they had fun!
So poorly run and incompetent were they that in the end, none of the other greyhound states would co-operate with them. Just look at Fast-track, late and a poor clone of what NSW and WA already had, and its still not ready.
New tracks, that even when newly built were derided as being worse than what they replaced.
A grading policy that catered towards a small 'elite' group of dogs that ended up gutting the Vic breeding pool.
They took trainers who not only were rumoured to be corrupt or dishonest, but had been found so in official inquiries and turned them into 'legends'.
If you ever want to know what happens to 'bogans' who have won lotto and then been left unsupervised, then look at GRV.
But they had fun!
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