10
http://webcache.googleusercontent.co...&ct=clnk&gl=au
"Push for senate inquiry into Force axing
Western Australian Liberal Senator Linda Reynolds will call for a Senate Inquiry into the Australian Rugby Union’s decision to cull the Western Force from Super Rugby, with Federal Minister for Sport Greg Hunt also lobbying for an investigation.
Senator Reynolds told The Australian yesterday she will seek the support of the Senate for an inquiry as soon as the upper house resumes in a fortnight. With the NSW Supreme Court to determine tomorrow whether to grant the Force leave to appeal against the decision, events seem to be gathering pace around the ARU’s controversial call to cut the Force from next year’s competition.
Hunt also weighed into the controversy yesterday in support of the Force. “We have an overwhelming preference for five Australian teams as part of the Super Rugby competition,” he said.
“The loss of a team for any state is devastating for both players and supporters. I would urge the ARU to work with the Force and the WA Government to look for a five team solution. I have now raised the issue with the ARU.”
He also supported Senator Reynolds’ call for an investigation of the process that led to the decision. “Any external review that charted a path to this outcome would be welcome.”
The Force’s billionaire backer Andrew “Twiggy” Forrest will meet today with ARU chairman Cameron Clyne and two directors, John Eales and Brett Robinson, in Adelaide to determine whether any support he can give the game nationally and in the West can persuade the ARU to reverse its decision.
And, as expected, the West Australian Government has warned the ARU it will sue it for the $100 million-plus it has poured into the Force — a move that could bankrupt the cash-strapped national body.
Senator Reynolds put the ARU on notice with an adjournment speech to the Senate last week at which she called for the ARU to publicly release information relating to the board’s decision to cut the Force, in particular “the big spreadsheet” it claimed demonstrated the decision was in the best interests of Australian rugby.
Yesterday, she upped the ante.
“There are serious questions that need to be answered on how the ARU came to this decision and I believe a Senate inquiry can bring much-needed transparency to the process, ”she said."