Magpies fight for licence after breaches at Beach Hotel Michael Warner
Herald Sun
May 25, 2010 COLLINGWOOD is battling to save Eddie McGuire and the club's board from being stripped of their right to own and operate pubs and pokies.
Police have pushed ahead with legal action against the Pies stemming from a series of licence breaches at the troubled Beach Hotel.
The case could have drastic ramifications for the powerhouse AFL club.
Police want VCAT to decide whether the Collingwood directors should be disqualified from holding a licence.
Board members include McGuire, CEO Gary Pert, Visy chief Alex Waislitz, Spotless boss Ian McMullin, insolvency expert Mark Korda, Starcom CEO Paul Leeds and former Olympian Alisa Camplin.
David Galbally, QC, for Collingwood, asked the tribunal to take into consideration the "calibre" of the Magpies board.
"You would have to ... take into account who it is and the calibre of the individuals sitting on the board," he told VCAT acting deputy president John Billings.
The tribunal was presented with CVs of each of the directors, with special mention made of Mr McMullin and his role at Spotless catering.
Collingwood's inhouse lawyer, Dale Curtis, declined to publicly reveal to the tribunal the identity of another board member who he said was the freehold owner of a licensed venue in Richmond.
Mr Curtis said the Beach Hotel, which drained millions of dollars from the club's coffers, had been sold.
"Within two or three months this venue will not be under the control of the Collingwood Football Club," he said.
But Sen-Constable Walter Soto, for Victoria Police, said the case should proceed.
"The calibre of the people is, without question, exemplary. But the question that has to be decided is whether these people are able to manage the peculiar and difficult industry of liquor," he said.
"It appears they have probably got the recipe right, now. However, what has occurred should not be ignored."
Mr Billings reserved his decision.
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