Racing NSW issues please explain after Latham spray

Racing NSW has asked the Australian Turf Club directors to respond to questions raised by maverick NSW MP Mark Latham relating to governance issues surrounding chairman Tim Hale.

It is understood that Racing NSW asked the ATC directors to respond individually last week and for it to be done in the form of statutory declarations.

Hale, who is a King’s Counsel, acknowledged the ATC committee had been asked formal questions by Racing NSW about alleged code of conduct breaches Latham raised in the NSW parliament.

“We received a letter from RNSW regarding claims from Mark Latham. There is no substance to the assertions made and we have responded accordingly,” Hale said in a statement.

If there have been breaches of the ATC code of conduct and a director had to be removed, the committee would lack its four-member quorum following last month’s resignations by Ben Bayot and Natalie Hewson.

Those resignations and the sacking of chief executive Matt Galanos led to a show cause notice to the club from Racing NSW why the club shouldn’t be put into administration, to which the ATC has already responded.

Hale and Latham have known each other for more than 30 years in public life with the relationship going back to when Latham was Liverpool mayor and Hale was a young barrister.

However, the pair have fallen out in recent times, with the final straw coming when Hale didn’t support Latham after he was removed from Randwick on Epsom day after being banned by the club from attending its meetings.

Latham launched a personal attack on Hale in the Legislative Council on October 14 before asking the Racing Minister six questions on notice in regard to ATC directors and Hale in particular and breaches of their code of conduct.

“(1) What are the breaches of the Australian Turf Club’s (ATC) Code of Conduct by its Directors, as identified by Racing NSW in September?”

“(2) What action have you taken about this problem given that Racing NSW has written to ATC Directors about its concerns which, according to the regulator, “have not been adequately addressed”?”

“(3) Are you aware that at the ATC Board meeting on 15 April 2025 the then Vice-Chair Tim Hale declared a conflict of interest concerning his close relationship with the Hon Mark Latham concerning their work together to stop the sale of Rosehill?”

“(4) Are you aware of the relationship between Mr Hale and Mr Latham deepening as Mr Hale sought and received parliamentary information about the Goldmate M12 and Transport for NSW compensation case he was working on as a barrister for Goldmate?”

“(5) Why didn’t Mr Hale, now the ATC Chairman, declare a conflict of interest regarding his relationship with Mr Latham at the Board meeting on 9 October 2025 when a matter concerning Mr Latham was considered by the Board?”

“(6) What action are you taking concerning these repeated breaches of the ATC’s Code of Conduct?”

The questions have to be responded to by the Racing Minister on or before November 11.

Latham couldn’t hide his disdain for Hale in his address to the house on October 14.

“Never nurse a mug; he is bound to die in your arms. I apologise tonight to all the Langites because I am in breach of the second truism. I nursed Tim Hale at the Australian Turf Club [ATC] and, inevitably, he has died in my arms,” Latham began.

In the extraordinary attack, Latham called Hale, “Jellyfish Tim” and “Weathervane Tim” and acknowledged they worked closely during the debate about the sale of Rosehill.

“For 18 months Hale laid in the grass, waiting for McGauran to fall, and fall he did. Hale would ring me weekly, wanting the latest from the Rosehill select committee, snaking his way down Phillip Street,” Latham said.

“Inevitably, McGauran had to go but, for Weathervane Tim, the wind changed direction yet again. As the new chairman, how could he protect himself against the Racing NSW takeover of the ATC?”

“That is on a board with a show cause notice having been issued to the remaining four board members.”

“With the ethical standards of Erin Patterson, Hale thought he could build a Labor protection racket around himself, going back to his Labor roots in the Frank Walker machine.”

“He promoted the great two-faced villain of Rosehill, Steve McMahon, to be the CEO, thinking that would give him cover with McMahon’s mate, the Premier, and the Minns-V’landys relationship.”

Latham continued the attack by questioning if Hale would ever stand up to Racing NSW.

“As a grovelling surrogate to Peter V’landys, selling out yet again with the hope under Racing NSW rule, he can hang on as a ribbon-presenting lackey, still carrying the title of chairman to a non-existent board,” he said.

“It is said by many who inform me that he is collaborating with PVL and McMahon with this degrading hope in mind.”

“That is the way of the cur, the coward—a life permanently on one’s knees. As the great Jack Lang might have said, he is more to be pitied than despised.”