Robert Thomson

Chief Executive
News Corp
Dear Robert
On Monday 9 November 2015, to their discredit, News Limited newspapers mentioned in passing that the
Victorian WorkSafe Authority had decided not to charge the AFL with breaches of the OH&S Act. As my team
believed it was arguably the worst decision in OH&S history, we were shocked that your papers made no
attempt to canvass the evidence and the decision.
I provided the VWA with truck-loads of evidence, which should have ensured charges were laid. I even tabled
evidence from the AFL, which was tantamount to a guilty plea. However, you and your journalists should only
need to look at two comments by Andrew Demetriou to accept that the AFL had breached the OH&S Act:

1.

AFL chief Andrew Demetriou at risk of legal safety breach

Adam Shand The Australian October 04, 2013

Mr Demetriou admitted last Friday he should have been "more vigilant" and that he knew "doctors at two clubs
were being marginalised" as the influence of sport scientists grew. Source: Herald Sun.
AFL chief executive Andrew Demetriou failed to act on information the league received from Essendon in
2011 on its controversial supplements program, potentially breaching a legal requirement to ensure the
code's 18 clubs provide a safe working environment for players and staff.
Mr Demetriou admitted last Friday he should have been "more vigilant" and that he knew "doctors at two clubs
were being marginalised" as the influence of sport scientists grew. He told interviewer Mike Sheahan on Fox
Footy that he "was privy to some information and (was) hearing things and certain things were happening at a
couple of clubs".
"It was part of an unhealthy . . . awkward trend which we didn't like and I regret that we didn't do something
earlier," he said.
2.

Letter from Andrew Demetriou to all clubs 4 December 2013:

It is the role of the AFL Commission and administration to oversee the health and safety of all players, the
integrity of the AFL competition and the rules governing the game.
Robert, I have only spoken to James Hird twice so I have no idea whether you are still one of his closest friends
or whether you are in the David Evans dog box. But Id be very confident to say the Hirds would not expect any
favours from you. They would just hope that you and your journalists did your jobs as journalists.
That said, I am sure the Hirds cant understand why your papers devoted so much space to Phuc Dat Bich and
yet refused to mention that:
1.

Jackson Taylor lodged a claim (presumably an 8-figure sum) against the AFL in the Supreme Court.

2.

I lodged a complaint with the Commonwealth Ombudsman against ASADA for having run a corrupted
investigation.

3.

I lodged a complaint with the Office of Public Prosecutions against the VWA.

Yours sincerely
Bruce Francis