THE Labor Party’s local problems with candidates looks set to continue, despite a man putting his hand up to stand for the party in the South Coast electorate at the 2015 election.
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Ahead of last year’s federal election the ALP parachuted in former rugby league star David Boyle to take on Joanna Gash for Gilmore, sparking protests among local members who demanded the right to preselect their own candidate.
After months of acrimony the local members got their way after Mr Boyle stepped down, allowing Neil Reilly to begin a shortened and unsuccessful campaign.
Then ahead of the March state election the ALP struggled to find anyone to stand against sitting Liberal Shelley Hancock in the South Coast electorate, before convincing real estate agent Glenn Sims to represent the party.
There looks to be no such problem ahead of the 2015 state election, with North Nowra resident Brad Gully announcing plans to seek the party’s endorsement in the South Coast.
However Mr Gully yesterday conceded he had a chequered past that resulted in him being warned off all Australian greyhound racing tracks, and from having any involvement with greyhound racing in Australia.
The warning off came from Greyhound Racing South Australia after Mr Gully failed to attend stewards’ inquiries into syndicates operated and managed by Mr Gully.
Greyhound Racing SA chief steward Paul Marks said when the syndicate fell apart there were allegations Mr Gully owed “substantial amounts of money to a substantial number of people”.
Mr Marks said it took six months for the organisation to clarify who owned an estimated 70 dogs and pups registered under the name of Mr Gully’s syndicate Team Bundy, after shares were sold over the internet.
As syndicate manager Mr Gully was required to present documentation of accounts and dealings with owners to a stewards’ inquiry, but Mr Marks said Mr Gully failed to do so or appear before the inquiry.
Greyhound Racing NSW general manager of growth and sustainability, Tony O’Mara, said “a number of issues relating to Mr Gully and the folding of his syndicates” remained unresolved, and had been referred to the Australian Securities and Investments Commission.
Mr Gully said he was doing his best to pay off his debts, but that process was difficult because he had sent all his documentation to Greyhound Racing SA, as the organisation had requested.
“If there’s any way I can pay everyone back I will, but I’d really like all my documents back to help me do it,” he said.
“I want to fix all of this up.
“Everyone makes mistakes, only a true man can admit his mistakes and do everything in his power to rectify them.”
Mr Gully said he planned to travel to Adelaide later in the year, and hoped to speak to stewards then.
Mr Gully said he had not revealed the situation to ALP members as, “It’s something I see as my business, something I’m trying to fix up.
“However it’s not something I’m trying to hide.”
