Nick Xenophon (SA, Independent) Share this | Hansard source

My question is to the Minister representing the Minister for Sport, Senator Arbib. On 26 August of this year, Chris Jongewaard was found guilty in the District Court of South Australia on one count of aggravated driving without due care and another of leaving the scene of an accident without rendering assistance, after the vehicle he was driving struck and seriously injured cyclist Matthew Rex. Last Friday, Mr Jongewaard was sentenced to two years imprisonment with a nine-month non-parole period, which I note is being appealed. Last Monday, Cycling Australia held a disciplinary hearing over Mr Jongewaard’s suitability to represent Australia in cycling, where Mr Jongewaard was ultimately banned from representing Australia for six months. Can the minister explain why the victim, Matt Rex, himself a former champion cyclist, was not notified of the hearing date, not given an opportunity to make a submission and not notified of the outcome, despite indications given to my office by Cycling Australia that Mr Rex might be included in the process?