‘Political’ appointments overshadow move to majority female board for Australian Sports Commission

Coinciding with Melbourne Cup day, Federal Sport Minister Greg Hunt has announced new appointments to the board of the Australian Sports Commission (ASC).

The appointments, which see the Federal Government sport agency gain a majority female board for the first time, have been marred by accusations of political bias with two of the three appointees having longstanding ties to the Liberal Party.

Making the announcement of the new board members, Minister Hunt advised that “Gabrielle Trainor, Andrea Mitchell and Mark Textor will add broad and extensive experience to the ASC Board, chaired by John Wylie AM.

“I am also delighted to announce the extension of ASC Board member Andrew Plympton’s term for a further three years.”

However, Textor is long-time key Liberal campaigner and strategist while Mitchell is a former Western Australian Liberal MP.

With the ASC’s board normally made up of ex-athletes and business people, the appointment of Textor, who, along with his business partner Lynton Crosby has worked on conservative campaigns in elections in Australia, New Zealand and the United Kingdom is seen as a major politicisation of the role.

Minister Hunt’s appointment statement advised that Textor's skills include "strategic insights", adding that Textor “has led many successful government and commercial campaigns that are defined by market research, corporate intelligence and strategic communication."

While having served as Western Australian MP from 2008 until losing her seat earlier this year, Mitchell began her career in physical education, before moving on to managerial positions with the Western Australian Department of Sport and Recreation.

She is a former President of Tennis West (from 1996 to 2008) and Director of Tennis Australia (1997 to 2008).

A former lawyer, journalist and public sector executive, Trainor has served on boards in the public and private sectors for more than 20 years across areas such as sports, infrastructure, urban development, public transport, tourism, construction, arts and culture, Indigenous advancement and welfare.

She was a founding member of the Greater Western Sydney Giants and was appointed an AFL Commissioner in 2016.

Minister Hunt added “the appointments have been made at a pivotal time for Australian sport as the ASC plays a lead role in the development of the Turnbull Government’s National Sport Plan.

“(The Plan) will provide a unified, long-term strategy for Australian sport across four key pillars; Participation, Performance, Prevention through physical activity and Integrity.

“These ASC Board appointments will add value to the implementation of the National Sport Plan given their impressive backgrounds.”

In respect of the Board’s gender balance, Minister Hunt concluded “the ASC has worked hard to advance the number of women on Australian sport boards and lead by example with six females among the 11 Directors on their Board.”

The ASC will be hosting its biennial Our Sporting Future conference on the Gold Coast.

Image: The Australian Sports Commission's Canberra headquarters.

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