Australian state has selected former police officer and corporate security specialist as its first Racing Integrity Commissioner.
Thursday 25th February 2010
In Australia, the state of Victoria has appointed former police officer and corporate security specialist Sal Perna as its inaugural Racing Integrity Commissioner following recent revelations of corruption across the sport’s three codes.
The appointment was announced by the state’s Deputy Premier and Minister For Racing, Rob Hulls, who stated that Perna was ‘ideally suited for the role’ and would ‘further strengthen probity to Victorian racing’.
“With a strong background in law enforcement through 20 years with Victoria Police and extensive experience as the head of corporate security for Australia Post and Telstra, Perna is an outstanding candidate,” said Hulls.
“He has an outstanding record in both public and private security and, as a former Detective Inspector with Victoria Police, he has a wealth of investigative experience to draw on. He has also developed an anti-corruption programme for Tennis Australia.
“His professional experience and comprehensive knowledge of integrity assurance will provide tremendous benefits for our racing industry and further entrench it as one of the world’s best run and most effectively monitored racing industries.”
For the next two years, Perna will work closely with the racing industry’s controlling bodies and other regulatory authorities such as the Victorian Commission For Gambling Regulation, Victoria Police and the Federal Police to monitor integrity assurances while improving intelligence-sharing on integrity related topics specific to the sport.
“Perna’s role as Racing Integrity Commissioner will be crucial to strengthening integrity assurance in the Victorian racing industry,” said Hulls.
“It is a position of great responsibility. One I expect he will carry out with the highest standards of integrity and respect.”
