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Strife-torn Olympic sport federation Equestrian Australia is being sued by its former digital services provider over an allegedly unauthorised cyberattack.
Lloyd Raleigh, whose company Nominate Pty Ltd was contracted by Equestrian Australia for a decade to run its member database and horse registration portal, alleges there were 19,131 attacks made on his server during a test of the sport’s computer system.
The penetration test on the Equestrian Australia computer system was conducted in January 2024.Credit: Bloomberg
The claims are contained in documents filed with the Brisbane Magistrates Court against Equestrian Australia and Zirilio – the Sydney online security company that the governing body hired to perform a simulated incursion of its technology.
It is the latest problem for an organisation facing a revolt against its board members and which is the subject of an Australian Sports Commission-ordered review by integrity expert Iain Roy, who investigated cricket’s sandpaper scandal in 2018.
Three directors, including chairman and Hunters Hill Mayor Zac Miles, departed last month before a resolution to remove them could be put to Equestrian Australia’s 20,000 members. Another three are on the chopping block at a special general meeting on Thursday.
Raleigh had agreed to have a so-called “penetration test” conducted to identify vulnerabilities in the computer system and permitted Zirilio to bypass a firewall.
But he alleges the simulated cyberattack in January 2024 ventured outside its agreed boundaries.
He is pursuing damages in court after spending an alleged $141,756.06 on a forensic examination of the testing.
Raleigh claims it constituted a breach of contract by Equestrian Australia, and is also taking action against the cybersecurity firm, which carried out the activity from its Sydney security lab.
According to court documents, Zirilio allegedly made 19,131 attacks on Raleigh’s server on URLs outside the agreed limits.
Equestrian Australia is fighting the claim, saying that “despite having made reasonable inquiries [it] remains uncertain as to the truth or falsity of the allegation”.
Australia’s Hilary Scott and horse Milky Way compete at the Paris Olympics last year. Equestrian Australia oversees the three Olympic disciplines – showjumping, eventing and dressage.Credit: Getty Images
The national federation, which receives nearly $6 million a year in federal government high-performance funding, said in its defence lodged with the court that if Zirilio attempted to access areas of the computer system outside the testing scope, Equestrian Australia was not aware of it and did not authorise it.
It denied a breach of contract, said Raleigh did not need to engage other cybersecurity consultants to do a forensic examination and dismissed some of his allegations as “vague and embarrassing”.
Zirilio, which is listed on corporate records as Allstars Trading Pty Lty, has not filed a defence, and in its absence, Raleigh’s lawyer has requested the court deliver a default judgment against the cybersecurity outfit.
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According to court documents, sport technology business PMY Group, whose backers include ex-Qantas chairman and former Equestrian Australia board member Leigh Clifford, former AFL Commission chairman Mike Fitzpatrick and ex-St Kilda captain Nick Riewoldt, was appointed by Equestrian Australia to manage the testing process.
The sport’s legal case is being handled by the firm Colin Biggers & Paisley, where one of the Equestrian Australia directors facing the axe on Thursday, Rhett Oliver, is a partner.
Raleigh, who has since been replaced as Equestrian Australia’s IT services provider, has also fronted a campaign to remove members of the board, gathering proxy votes for this week’s SGM.
As well as being wracked by political turmoil, integrity and welfare issues, Equestrian Australia has sustained losses of almost $1.2 million over the past two years and members are voting on whether to unseat Oliver and fellow directors Stephanie Lyons and Maggie Hundertmark.
Lyons, an executive at Risk Super and former chief risk officer at EISS Super, has urged members to keep her on, in a statement posted to the Equestrian Australia website.
“If I were to be removed now, it would in my view create disruption, and such disruption could potentially jeopardise funding from the Australian Sports Commission, and unsettle EA’s staff, who are focused on delivering for members nationwide,” she said.
A resolution brought by members had sought to boot out six directors, but three have already gone, with Miles deciding not to contest re-election at the annual general meeting last month and Wolf-Christian Bennecke and Jane Ballantyne also leaving after their terms.
Nicholas Ballard has been named the new chair.
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