Travel writer’s organisation probed again by gaming officials over raffle cheating allegation
The president of the Australian Society of Travel Writers (ASTW) has insisted officials have done nothing wrong as the organisation faces a second investigation by gaming officials over a raffle in which organisers are alleged to have cheated and denied the rightful winner his prize.
The Office of Liquor and Gaming Regulation confirmed it is conducting inquiries into the December 2013 raffle, held by the ASTW, after a complaint from long serving member Glyn May.
It is the second time the ASTW has faced question over the raffle, which took place in Brisbane.
May claimed he saw the business card of his friend Peter Cole drawn from a bucket only for it to be replaced and another drawn.
Dean Miller, a presenter on Channel 7’s Queensland Weekender, was then announced as the winner of the prize, two nights’ accommodation in Macau, according to the Courier Mail.
The ASTW say the original card belonged to someone who was not eligible to claim the prize.
May first lodged a complaint with the gaming authority last year but pursued the issue after being unhappy at the way both the ASTW and OLGR handled the inquiry.
The first investigation was based around the requirements of section 95 (dealing with prizes) of the Charitable and Non-Profit Gaming Act 1999 and Schedule 5 (promotional games) of the Charitable and Non-Profit Gaming Rule 2010.
The case was re-opened on February 11 this year following further correspondence from May with the OLGR now looking into an allegation that the ASTW breached section 106 of the Act, which covers cheating. The offence carries a maximum punishment of two years’ prison.
“The Office of Liquor and Gaming Regulation (OLGR) received reports that an organisation had allegedly breached the Charitable and Non-Profit Gaming Act 1999 when conducting a raffle,” an OLGR spokesperson said.
“Investigations into alleged breaches are ongoing and no further details are able to be provided at this stage.”
ASTW president Kerry Heaney said it was “disappointing” the matter had been raised again after believing the investigation had been closed last year.
“We believe that we have done everything possible to resolve this issue in a sensible manner, and in fact, offers of mediation from the society have been refused,” she said.
“The overwhelming view of the Society is that the incident was an unfortunate misunderstanding and that we need to move on.”
The ASTW also rejected claims from May that he was “expelled” from the society and that members left ASTW in protest.
Steve Jones
Travel writer cheating probe (comment)
The question of who owned the first card drawn and discarded in the disputed travel writers “raffle” of December 10, 2013 is irrelevant to the reopened official investigation of this matter.
The probe is now focussed on two actions in the conduct of the draw to determine whether there was a breach of the cheating provisions of section 106 of the Act.
The first action was when the three members of the officiating party, Kerry Heaney and two ASTW life members from Sydney, Mike Smith (a former president) and travel agent Helen Wong, examined the first card drawn, discussed it quietly among themselves and then discarded it without offering an explanation to the audience.
The second action was drawing a second card and awarding it to a non-member of the ASTW who the officiating party knew, or should have known, was ineligible under the published rules of the ASTW.
Ms Heaney is quoted in Mumbrella as saying: ”We believe that we have done everything possible to resolve this issue in a sensible manner and, in fact, offers of mediation from the society have been refused.”
Nothing is further from the truth.
The ASTW has done nothing to resolve the matter –- only to inflame it.
I initiated mediation in writing on February 1, 2014, only five weeks after the “raffle” when I offered to appear before the full committee for questioning and a possible resolution.
This was rejected by the committee.
I later formally twice advised the secretary Rama Gain and the committee that a dispute existed and that mediation was necessary under the ASTW’s own constitution and relevant legislation.
This was ignored. Kerry Heaney later withdrew from yet another mediation arrangement.
Kerry Heaney tried to sweep the whole issue under the carpet by unlawfully, and without explanation, expelling both myself and magazine editor/travel editor Peter Cole whose card was first drawn and discarded.
I was expelled for stirring up trouble. Peter Cole, an innocent bystander, was axed because he is a friend of mine.
If, as Ms Heaney asserts, I was not expelled, perhaps she can explain why I (and Peter Cole) are no longer members.
Kerry Heaney, as president and senior ASTW person officiating at the drawing of the “raffle”, might now consider whether the expulsion provisions of the ASTW Code of Ethics (section c) and the ASTW’s Constitution (Section 11) may be relevant to her own position in the ASTW.
(Glyn May
glynmay@bigpond.com
Mob: 0418 730 686)
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