News & Media

02 May 2012 Investigation into Media Comments

On 24 January 2012, the RWWA Integrity Assurance Committee ('IAC') advised that it had appointed independent investigators VERIFACT to conduct an investigation in relation to an article that appeared in the Sunday Times on 6th November 2011 wherein several allegations were attributed to Trainer Ms S. Hoppmann, in relation to the RWWA Principal Investigator Mr P O'Reilly. Ms Hoppmann had made no formal complaint to RWWA despite the time elapsed since the article was published at that time.

Verifact has now completed its investigation and has advised the IAC that:

• A number of parties were interviewed in relation to the matters raised within the article.
• That despite repeated requests, Ms S. Hoppmann did not provide any evidence to substantiate the serious allegations made by her as reported within the article.
• That such evidence as was able to be obtained by Verifact, does not support the subject matter in the media article.

Ms S. Hoppmann attended before the IAC on 23 April 2012 and again declined to lodge a formal complaint or provide evidence in relation to the allegations made by her as reported within the article.

RWWA is aware that the matter is the subject of an ongoing investigation by the Equal Opportunity Commission ('EOC') as a result of a complaint being made by Ms Hoppmann.

The IAC therefore advises that it reserves its rights in the matter pending the outcome of the investigation by the EOC. Under these circumstances RWWA is unable to make further comment on this matter at this time.

Media Contact: Pippa McIntosh
08 94455184
0434 565 163
pippa.mcintosh@rwwa.com.au