V'landys subpoenas ex-minister Hazzard in defamation battle over racing industry review

NSW government joins challenge to subpoena seeking confidential submissions

By LineZotpaper AI staff

Published27 October 2026

Updated27 October 2026

Read Time3 min

Sources3 outlets

NRL boss Peter V'landys has escalated his legal battle against a racing website by subpoenaing former New South Wales minister Brad Hazzard, seeking confidential submissions made to a government review of the thoroughbred racing industry.

NRL boss Peter V'landys has served a subpoena on former New South Wales minister Brad Hazzard as part of his defamation battle against the website The Thoroughbred Report and its owner Vicky Leonard.

The subpoena directs Hazzard to turn over any communications he had with Leonard and her associates about V'landys, as well as submissions made to the government review of the Thoroughbred Racing Act that mention the Racing NSW boss.

Hazzard is challenging the subpoena, as is the NSW government, which had separate legal representation during a brief appearance in the NSW Supreme Court on Tuesday.

"As a former NSW health minister and attorney-general, I agreed to undertake a review of the Thoroughbred Racing Act for the NSW government. At all times, the review process was predicated on those making submissions feeling confident that their submissions would be treated confidentially," Hazzard told the Sydney Morning Herald.

V'landys, who is overseas, declined to comment. He claims the article contained misinformation about the state of racing under his leadership and wrongly suggested his NRL role was taking away from his racing responsibilities.

Hazzard was appointed by the Minns government in August last year to conduct the review. He tendered his report in July, though the government has not yet released it. Hazzard said he was now "concerned that what was a respectful review has been dragged into somebody else's defamation proceedings".

The subpoena does not call for Hazzard to provide the court with his full report.

There has been speculation within racing about the contents of the report and about who is paying for V'landys' legal proceedings, fronted by prominent barrister Sue Chrysanthou SC. Racing Minister David Harris told a parliamentary hearing in August that he did not personally know if Racing NSW was footing the bill, describing it as a matter for the board.

V'landys has been on long-service leave from Racing NSW since July and last month became full-time executive chairman of the Australian Rugby League Commission. He will officially leave racing in five weeks, after 22 years in charge.

Leonard, who is defending the defamation proceedings, previously subpoenaed the Australian Rugby League Commission and sought access to V'landys' medical records before agreeing to cease those efforts in May.

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Analysis

Why This Matters

The case tests the confidentiality of submissions to government reviews, with potential implications for future inquiries.
It puts the governance of Racing NSW and its relationship with the NRL under scrutiny.
The source of funding for V'landys' legal action could raise questions about the use of racing industry money.

Background

Peter V'landys has led Racing NSW for 22 years and recently became full-time executive chairman of the Australian Rugby League Commission. The defamation action arises from an article in The Thoroughbred Report. Former NSW minister Brad Hazzard was appointed by the Minns government to conduct a review of the Thoroughbred Racing Act, gathering confidential submissions from industry participants.

Key Perspectives

Brad Hazzard: He opposes the subpoena, arguing it violates the confidentiality that was central to the integrity of his review process. Peter V'landys: He argues the website article was defamatory for suggesting his NRL work harmed his racing duties. He declined to comment on the subpoena. Racing Minister David Harris: He told parliament he does not know if Racing NSW is funding V'landys' case, stating it is a board matter. Vicky Leonard: The website owner is defending the defamation case and has previously sought access to V'landys' medical records and documents from the ARLC.

What to Watch

The outcome of the Supreme Court challenge by Hazzard and the NSW government.
The eventual release of the Hazzard report and its findings.
Whether further clarification is provided on the funding of V'landys' legal case.

Sources

V’landys subpoenas former NSW minister in bid to unmask his critics · Brisbane Times
V’landys subpoenas former NSW minister in bid to unmask his critics · WAtoday
V’landys subpoenas former NSW minister in bid to unmask his critics · The Age

Checked

12 claims in this story checked against 1 source: 11 supported.

Show each claim

SupportedV’landys subpoenaed former minister Hazzard in his defamation battle over the racing industry review.Brisbane Times - Latest News: “The sports administrator is attempting to get his hands on confidential submissions to the so-called Hazzard report into racing as part of his defamation battle against an Australian racing website.”
SupportedThe NSW government joined the challenge to the subpoena seeking confidential submissions.Brisbane Times - Latest News: “A furious Hazzard is challenging it, as is the state government, who were represented by separate lawyers during a brief appearance in the NSW Supreme Court on Tuesday.”
SupportedThe subpoena seeks confidential submissions to the government review of thoroughbred racing.Brisbane Times - Latest News: “The sports administrator is attempting to get his hands on confidential submissions to the so-called Hazzard report into racing”
SupportedThe subpoena seeks communications between Hazzard and Leonard or her associates about V’landys, and submissions mentioning V’landys.Brisbane Times - Latest News: “The subpoena issued to Hazzard directs him to turn over any communications he had with Leonard and associates of hers about V’landys as well as submissions made to him that mention V’landys.”
Partly supportedHazzard said the review process depended on submitters feeling confident their submissions would be kept confidential, and the story attributes the quote to the Sydney Morning Herald.Brisbane Times - Latest News: ““As a former NSW health minister and attorney-general, I agreed to undertake a review of the Thoroughbred Racing Act for the NSW government. At all times, the review process was predicated on those making submissions feeling confident that their submissions would be treated confidentially,” he said.”
SupportedV’landys was overseas and declined to comment.Brisbane Times - Latest News: “V’landys is overseas and declined to comment.”
SupportedV’landys claims the article contained misinformation about racing under his leadership and wrongly suggested his rugby league responsibilities were taking time from his racing role.Brisbane Times - Latest News: “He claims in the defamation suit that it contained misinformation about the shape of the racing industry under his leadership and wrongly suggested the time he dedicated to running rugby league was taking away from his responsibilities.”
SupportedHazzard was appointed by the Minns government in August last year to conduct the review.Brisbane Times - Latest News: “Hazzard was appointed by the government in August last year”
SupportedHazzard tendered his report in July.Brisbane Times - Latest News: “and tendered his report in July.”
SupportedThe government has not released Hazzard’s report.Brisbane Times - Latest News: “It is yet to be made public.”
SupportedHazzard said he was concerned that a respectful review had been dragged into someone else’s defamation proceedings.Brisbane Times - Latest News: “Hazzard said it was up to the government to decide when to release it but said he was now “concerned that what was a respectful review has been dragged into somebody else’s defamation proceedings”.”
SupportedThe subpoena does not require Hazzard to provide the court with his full report.Brisbane Times - Latest News: “V’landys’ subpoena to Hazzard does not call for the ex-minister to provide the court with his full report.”