[AusRace] V'landys sues ABC

[L.B.Loveday]

Racing NSW boss Peter V'landys sues ABC, Caro Meldrum-Hanna over 7.30
investigation


 <https://cdn.newsapi.com.au/image/v1/8eff31fe140cd24ddc7fa297e3adfbc8>
Peter V'Landys agreed to appear in the program to respond to claims on
behalf of Racing NSW, saying no horses in the state were being sent to
abattoirs. Picture: ABC


*         Brad Norington
<https://www.theaustralian.com.au/author/Brad+Norington> 


ASSOCIATE EDITOR

@BradNorington <http://twitter.com/BradNorington> 

 

*	21 minutes ago March 2, 2020

Racing NSW chief executive Peter V'landys is suing the ABC and one of its
journalists for defamation over a 7.30 investigation in 2019 involving
serious alle-gations of cruelty to horses in the thoroughbred racing
industry.

According to documents lodged with the Federal Court, Mr V'landys claims he
was "greatly injured" by his portrayal in the program, and his -reputation
was brought into "public disrepute, ridicule and -contempt".

The 7.30 story The Final Race, reported by Caro Meldrum-Hanna and aired in
Oct-ober, alleged hundreds of former racehorses were sent to abattoirs. It
showed disturbing undercover video footage of animal cruelty.

Mr V'Landys agreed to appear in the program to respond to claims on behalf
of Racing NSW, saying no horses in the state were being sent to abattoirs.

His legal team, headed by barrister Bruce McClintock SC, will seek
aggravated damages, claiming the ABC acted "dishonestly" by failing to
disclose to him undercover video footage obtained in NSW and Queensland that
was shown in the program.

The V'landys legal team will also argue he was not given an opportunity to
explain that Racing NSW had no jurisdiction in Queensland, where most of the
racehorses sent to slaughter came from.

A month after The Last Race went to air, Racing NSW chairman Russell
Balding, a former managing director of the ABC, filed an official complaint
with the national broadcaster, alleging "serious and numerous breaches of
the ABC's statutory duties, editorial policies and code of practice". Mr
Balding's complaint covered 15 issues and alleged errors in the 7.30
program, including the circumstances of the interview with Mr V'landys.

The complaint was also highly critical of the program's timing, arguing it
was scheduled to have maximum impact before The Everest race at Randwick and
the Melbourne Cup.

The ABC's audience and consumer affairs unit cleared 7.30 and Meldrum-Hanna,
finding no breach of editorial standards. An ABC spokesman said in January
there was "no substance to the . complaint and it also contained inaccurate
statements and erroneous claims".

Immediately after the program aired, Mr V'Landys unequivocally condemned the
"alleged abhorrent actions of the Meramist Queensland abattoir" where acts
of animal cruelty were shown. He said the vision was "sickening and
horrendous" and called on the Queensland government to take the strongest
possible action.

He also said Racing NSW was the only state with a "Rule of Racing" that
prohibited horses being sent to a knackery or abattoir if they had been
predominantly domiciled in the NSW industry. Documents from his legal team
say it will be argued the 7.30 investigation implied Mr V'Landys "callously
permitted the wholesale slaughter of thoroughbred horses".

An ABC spokeswoman said the broadcaster "will defend the proceedings".

 

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