Australian Rugby Union CEO Bill Pulver "is satisfied the Brumbies remain financially viable" despite the Super Rugby franchise’s "hefty legal costs and payout to departed CEO Michael Jones," according to the AAP. Brumbies Chair Robert Kennedy said later the franchise "would not need ARU help to meet the costs from the Supreme Court action" brought by Jones and the settlement payment agreed with him after mediation. Kennedy: "We’ve been through that in particular over the last few days in striking the deal, and I can confirm that we are financially viable, and that there are no ongoing concerns over our financial viability." Pulver said that while he was content with the Brumbies’ position, "longterm funding of all five Australian Super Rugby franchises was a key concern and priority for the ARU" (AAP, 5/3).
GOVERNMENT FACES QUESTIONS: In Melbourne, Kirsten Lawson reported the ACT Liberals "have questioned whether the government" waived a A$7.5M ($5.6M) development tax to "help the Brumbies or to help a third party." Liberal Leader Jeremy Hanson "also used Question Time on Tuesday to question the involvement of former Labor deputy chief minister, now development consultant, David Lamont in the Brumbies land deal." The issue goes to the "bitter battle that has raged at top levels of the Brumbies," with Jones raising "serious concerns about the Griffith development and move to the University of Canberra through a series of negotiations" between '09 and '13. The Brumbies first announced plans to sell the Griffith HQ in '09, and announced the eventual sale, for A$11.4M, in '13. Lamont, through a company "half-owned by his wife, is project adviser for the University of Canberra on campus development, including student accommodation, health and sport projects" (THE AGE, 5/4).
