Intro
It is with pleasure that I present the Annual Report of the Racing Penalties Appeal Tribunal for the year ended 30 June 2021.
During the year, one appeal was carried over from the previous reporting period, and eight new appeals were lodged with the Tribunal. Of these, six were determined, one was withdrawn and two were carried over into the next financial year. All appeal determinations can be viewed on our website.
The Tribunal was not immune to the effects of the COVID-19 and the restrictions in place across Western Australia. Hearings, as required, are conducted via teleconference during this period.
I take this opportunity to thank Tribunal members for their invaluable contribution to the efficient operation of the Tribunal. They continue to give their time and expertise willingly in discharging their responsibilities and coping with the workload.
On behalf of the Tribunal, I also thank the Department of Local Government, Sport and Cultural Industries for its ongoing provision of executive services, and the State Administrative Tribunal for permitting the Tribunal to use its facilities. It would not be possible for the Tribunal to conduct its activities without this invaluable support.
Karen Farley SCChairperson
19 November 2021
The Racing Penalties Appeal Tribunal is established under the Racing Penalties (Appeals) Act 1990. The Tribunal was established to confer jurisdiction in respect to appeals against penalties imposed in disciplinary proceedings arising from, or in relation to, the conduct of thoroughbred racing, harness racing and greyhound racing, and for related purposes.
The aim of the Racing Penalties (Appeals) Act 1990 is to create and maintain industry confidence in the enforcement of the various racing rules by providing an impartial judicial forum for the hearing of appeals.
Executive support for the Tribunal is provided by the Department of Local Government, Sport and Cultural Industries. The Department recoups the cost of providing these services from the Tribunal. The Tribunal is funded from the profits of Racing and Wagering Western Australia (RWWA).
As at 30 June 2021, the Minister responsible for the Racing and Gaming Portfolio was the Honourable Reece Whitby, MLA, Minister for Emergency Services; Racing and Gaming; Small Business and Volunteering.
A person who is aggrieved by a determination of RWWA, a steward or a committee of a racing club may appeal to the Tribunal within 14 days of the determination date. The Tribunal can hear the following matters:
Additionally, the Tribunal may grant leave to appeal in relation to a limited range of other matters.
The jurisdiction of the Tribunal does not extend to a determination of a steward, a racing club, or a committee in matters regarding:
These matters are dealt with by RWWA.
The Tribunal is required to hear and determine an appeal based on the evidence of the original hearing but may allow new evidence to be given or experts to be called to assist in its deliberations.
When determining an appeal, the Tribunal may make the following orders:
Decisions of the Tribunal are final and binding.
The Tribunal is responsible for administering the Racing Penalties (Appeals) Act 1990.
The Tribunal complied with the following relevant written laws in the performance of its functions:
Sections 5 and 6 of the Racing Penalties (Appeals) Act 1990 provide that the Tribunal shall consist of a Chairperson and a panel of members, each appointed by the Minister. The Schedule to the Act specifies terms of appointment shall not exceed three years, with eligibility for reappointment. The Tribunal, constituted by the Chairperson (or the Acting Chairperson or member presiding), and two members sitting together hear appeals. An appeal may be heard by the Chairperson, Acting Chairperson or member presiding sitting alone where the Regulations so provide.
As of 30 June 2021, the Racing Penalties Appeal Tribunal consisted of eight members, namely:
Ms Karen Farley was appointed Chairperson in March 2018. Ms Farley holds a Bachelor of Jurisprudence and a Bachelor of Laws from the University of WA. She is a senior appeals consultant at Legal Aid WA.
Ms Farley has taught at UWA, Notre Dame and Murdoch University law schools. She has held positions on many government and non-government boards and committees. She has served on the Council of Management of St Hildas ASG for 15 years and was Chair of Council for seven years. Currently she is an elected member of the Shire of Peppermint Grove. From 2000 to 2006 she was supervising solicitor of the Unrepresented Criminal Appellants Scheme (UCAS), an innovative forensic legal skills programme initially operated from UWA Law School which gave law students the opportunity to assist otherwise unrepresented litigants prepare and present their case in the Court of Criminal Appeal.
In 2011, Women Lawyers of WA named her as Senior Lawyer of the Year. In December 2013, she was appointed Senior Counsel for and in the State of Western Australia.
Mr Patrick Hogan is a barrister admitted to the Supreme Court of Western Australia and the High Court of Australia in June 1982. Mr Hogan worked as a barrister and solicitor with the Legal Aid Commission of Western Australia, practising in civil and criminal law, then in private practice as a barrister with Howard Chambers. Mr Hogan was appointed as a part-time magistrate of the Children’s Court of Western Australia in September 1999 and president of the Gender Reassignment Board of Western Australia in 2007.
Mr Robert Nash is a barrister admitted as a practitioner of the Supreme Court of WA and the High Court of Australia, and also is a General Public Notary.
Mr Nash has during the course of his career served in a non-executive capacity on several councils, committees, and charitable and non-charitable boards, including Chairman and Director of Bauxite Resources Ltd, Director of North West Property Holdings Pty Ltd, Director of The Mandalay Projects Limited, Chairman of the WA Soccer Disciplinary Tribunal, Council Member of the Law Society of WA, Convenor Education Committee of Law Society, Counsel Assisting the Royal Commission into the City of Wanneroo, Member of the Professional Conduct Committee and Ethics Committee of the Law Society, Head of the WA Legal Panel of the Royal Australian Navy, resident tutor in law at St George’s College, Council Member of WA Bar Association Council, and Director WA Bar Chambers Ltd.
Mr Andrew Monisse has served as member of the Racing Penalties Appeal Tribunal of Western Australia since February 1997. He was admitted as a barrister and solicitor of the Supreme Court of Western Australia in December 1990 after completing articles at Mallesons Stephen Jaques. Mr Monisse’s employment experience has included working as a solicitor assisting counsel assisting at the WA Inc Royal Commission in 1991 and as a prosecutor for the Commonwealth Director of Public Prosecutions in the Perth office from 1992 to 1998. In April 1997 he commenced serving in the ADF as a member of the Perth Legal Panel of the RAAF Specialist Reserve, and since September 2006 has held the rank of Squadron Leader. In July 2000 Mr Monisse commenced his practice as a barrister, where he has since October 2000 been a member of the WA Bar Association. Mr Monisse practises predominantly in Criminal Law at Quarry Chambers.
Ms Brenda Robbins practices as a barrister and mediator at Murray Chambers in a variety of areas of law. Prior to her legal career she held a number of CEO and senior executive positions in Western Australian Government agencies. She has served on numerous boards including the Senate of the University of Western Australia, the Legal Aid Commission, Keystart Loans Ltd and the Australian Institute of Management (including a term as President). She is currently the Chair of the Metropolitan Cemeteries Board and a member of its Audit and Risk Committee. She is a Trustee of the Scholarships Trust of Graduate Women WA Inc. Brenda holds a Juris Doctor (High Dist.), BA (Econs), Graduate Certificate in Australian Migration Law and Practice and is a Graduate of Australian Institute of Company Directors (GAICD). Brenda is a Life Fellow of the Australian Institute of Management and a Fellow of the AICD.
Ms Emma Power graduated with a law degree from Murdoch University in 2004 and has been working predominately in property, development, corporate and commercial law since that time. Prior to studying law, she was a secondary school teacher teaching visual arts. In 2017, Ms Power became the principal of the private law practice Power Commercial Law. She is also a member of the Local Government Standards Panel and the Liquor Commission.
Ms Johanna Overmars, barrister and solicitor graduated from the University of Notre Dame in 2003 with degrees in law and arts. Ms Overmars was admitted in 2005 after completing her articles as an associate at the Family Court of WA and at Legal Aid WA. She has practiced in the areas of family and criminal law and set up her own firm Hills Hope Legal Pty Ltd in May 2013. Ms Overmars is a horse owner, who has studied horsemanship for many years. She previously undertook volunteer work with a horse rescue organisation.
Ms Zoe Gilders was appointed to the Tribunal in July 2019. She graduated with a Bachelor of Laws from Victoria University in 2005 and has a Graduate Diploma of Professional Legal Practice from the College of Law. She was admitted to the Supreme Court of Victoria in 2010 and the Supreme Court of Western Australia in 2016.
Ms Gilders is currently a sole legal practitioner practising in the area of criminal law. Her previous legal experience includes working at the Aboriginal Legal Service of WA, Her Majesty’s Revenue and Customs in the United Kingdom, Victoria Legal Aid and Isabelle Harrison Barrister & Solicitor