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The Melbourne Cricket Club will crackdown on bad behaviour by some of its members – especially the misuse of cards – after new rules were passed on Tuesday night.
Under a motion comprehensively endorsed at the club’s annual general meeting, punishment, including expulsion, will be easier to enforce.
A jam-packed MCC members reserve at the MCG.Credit: Getty Images
MCC president Fred Oldfield flagged the changes in July, and they received little opposition.
The new section on misconduct in the club’s rules says members can be referred for sanctions, including expulsion, simply if they “breached” any of the club’s rules, previously they could be punished only if they “wilfully infringed” specific rules around card use or failing to notify the club if they were convicted of serious crimes.
The rules around misuse of membership cards calls out the use of members’ cards by non-members to gain access to the MCG’s member enclosure or associated membership privileges. Cards feature members’ photographs and are not routinely checked on entry, but must be produced when requested.
Of the club’s members who are eligible to vote, 84 per cent of members backed the harder stance.
“For those that do breach our rules, and there are far too many cases that come up before our members disciplinary committee, our appeals committee, it’s extremely disappointing,” Oldfield said on Tuesday night.
The new rules require members to take reasonable precautions to prevent misuse of their cards, including guest cards.
Supporting documentation said the proposals would also “strengthen the overall member discipline process, whereby any breach of club rules must be investigated by management”.
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“It is for the purpose of our members’ enjoyment and safety that we continue to uphold high standards and set a code of conduct that all should abide by,” Oldfield said.
“As we continue to focus on the integrity of the club discipline, new cases have sadly increased again, highlighting breaches like card misuse and inappropriate ticketing actions such as lending membership cards and using child tickets for adults violate club rules and undermine the integrity of our membership.”
Members who are accused of misusing their cards face a disciplinary hearing with an appeals process.
“Management undertakes a rigorous review process before cases headed by the disciplinary appeals committee,” Oldfield said.
“I would like to take this opportunity to thank my fellow members who have volunteered their time in reviewing determining appropriate penalties for these cases. The disciplinary matters and subsequent penalties issued in the past year reflect the seriousness of failing to maintain the integrity of this membership.
“If hosting a guest in the members reserve [it is the] responsibility of that member to ensure the ticketing usage and behaviour is in line with expectations outlined in the club’s code of conduct.”
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