C
Crowd
Guest
FEARING it will be at a competitive disadvantage, the ARU is canvassing the idea of following its major football rivals and introducing an independent commission to govern the game.
The AFL commission has run the sport successfully since 1985, while rugby league's newly created independent commission will take control of its game on November 1.
Yet the ARU's governance structure is still based on an old-fashioned federated system under which state unions, principally NSW and Queensland, nominate directors for election to the board.
The move to an independent commission was discussed at a recent meeting of ARU and state union chairmen and chief executives. "There was a general feeling it was something worth looking at," ARU chairman Peter McGrath said.
"It's advantageous in terms of the utilisation of our existing resources. At the moment we have a number of competing interests.
"Look at the AFL. It operates very effectively. It makes decisions quickly in the best interests of the game. We are stuck in a structure that was created 100 years ago."
McGrath proposed the ARU conduct a review to determine the best governance model.
"The game has moved ahead of the structure," McGrath said.
"The game has been professional for 15 years. We've had one review of our constitution. It's time to take it further. Forget the politics, what is the best model to run the game? I can't see any reason why there would be any resistance. How can you argue against a review to put in the best possible model?"
ARU chief executive John O'Neill supported the idea of an independent commission, describing the AFL commission as the "gold standard" of sports governance. "I'm a great admirer of the AFL," O'Neill said. "It is regarded as the gold standard in terms of its constitution, corporate governance model and management model.
"The AFL commission is devoid of politics. It truly is a board of independent people, all of whom have great affinity and affection for the game, but are unshackled by sectional interest.
"The AFL, from where they were 20 years ago, look at where their revenues have gone. Look at where their expansion has gone -- effectively, the BHP of sport."
McGrath acknowledged there would be opposition to an independent commission and it would be difficult to achieve politically.
Any change to the ARU constitution requires a 75 per cent majority of the 14 member states. NSW has five votes and Queensland three, while the other states and territories have one each, which means NSW could block it on its own. "There will be some politicking around it," McGrath said. "The politicking will rest with the existing structures. It doesn't mean we shouldn't have go."
Brumbies chief executive Andrew Fagan was in favour of an independent commission even though he worked for a provincial union. "I'm definitely supportive of it," Fagan said. "There has been some tinkering to modernise it, but the independent commission is the model of best practice."
http://www.theaustralian.com.au/new...erning-authority/story-e6frg7o6-1226129284281
The AFL commission has run the sport successfully since 1985, while rugby league's newly created independent commission will take control of its game on November 1.
Yet the ARU's governance structure is still based on an old-fashioned federated system under which state unions, principally NSW and Queensland, nominate directors for election to the board.
The move to an independent commission was discussed at a recent meeting of ARU and state union chairmen and chief executives. "There was a general feeling it was something worth looking at," ARU chairman Peter McGrath said.
"It's advantageous in terms of the utilisation of our existing resources. At the moment we have a number of competing interests.
"Look at the AFL. It operates very effectively. It makes decisions quickly in the best interests of the game. We are stuck in a structure that was created 100 years ago."
McGrath proposed the ARU conduct a review to determine the best governance model.
"The game has moved ahead of the structure," McGrath said.
"The game has been professional for 15 years. We've had one review of our constitution. It's time to take it further. Forget the politics, what is the best model to run the game? I can't see any reason why there would be any resistance. How can you argue against a review to put in the best possible model?"
ARU chief executive John O'Neill supported the idea of an independent commission, describing the AFL commission as the "gold standard" of sports governance. "I'm a great admirer of the AFL," O'Neill said. "It is regarded as the gold standard in terms of its constitution, corporate governance model and management model.
"The AFL commission is devoid of politics. It truly is a board of independent people, all of whom have great affinity and affection for the game, but are unshackled by sectional interest.
"The AFL, from where they were 20 years ago, look at where their revenues have gone. Look at where their expansion has gone -- effectively, the BHP of sport."
McGrath acknowledged there would be opposition to an independent commission and it would be difficult to achieve politically.
Any change to the ARU constitution requires a 75 per cent majority of the 14 member states. NSW has five votes and Queensland three, while the other states and territories have one each, which means NSW could block it on its own. "There will be some politicking around it," McGrath said. "The politicking will rest with the existing structures. It doesn't mean we shouldn't have go."
Brumbies chief executive Andrew Fagan was in favour of an independent commission even though he worked for a provincial union. "I'm definitely supportive of it," Fagan said. "There has been some tinkering to modernise it, but the independent commission is the model of best practice."
http://www.theaustralian.com.au/new...erning-authority/story-e6frg7o6-1226129284281
