Open Letter to the Boards of RANZCOG and RANZCP
- NASOG
- Jul 1
- 3 min read
Updated: Jul 2
We write to raise a matter of serious concern requiring urgent attention.
During the past week, the Presidents of RANZCP and RANZCOG; acting in their official capacities, were directly involved in organising and promoting a fundraiser for the Australian Labor Party (see the screenshot above). While the event was cancelled after concerns were raised by members, there has been no response from either College. The existence of this event raises significant legal, ethical and governance questions that demand a formal response.
As far as we are concerned, these actions are troubling. The event was presented as an educational forum, with discounted registration rates for trainees, yet buried in the fine print was the following disclosure:
"All funds raised go towards Victorian ALP State Campaigns. Authorised by Steve Staikos, Australian Labor Party – Victorian Branch, 438 Docklands Drive, Docklands VIC 3008."
The two College Presidents then actively promoted this event through their professional forums, encouraging fellows and trainees to attend.
Compounding this, the political candidate central to the event is the spouse of the RANZCP Victorian Branch Chair; a conflict of interest that was apparently not disclosed nor managed.
As you would be well aware, this conduct cuts directly against obligations that College members have been repeatedly reminded of in recent years:
to preserve political neutrality;
to manage conflicts of interest transparently;Â and
to comply with the legal responsibilities that flow from the Colleges' status as registered charities.
That the Presidents themselves appear to have disregarded these obligations, leveraging their positions and networks for explicit political fundraising, is extraordinary.
Unsurprisingly, members of both Colleges are demanding answers. Their confidence in College governance has been shaken and the reputational damage to these institutions is real.
To demonstrate that our Colleges take their governance obligations seriously, we formally request that RANZCP and RANZCOG:
Conduct a thorough, independent and transparent investigation into this matter;
Provide clear guidance to the College Presidents and office bearers on their obligations regarding political neutrality, conflicts of interest and charity law compliance; and
Establish measures to prevent recurrence and communicate those to the membership.
Our Colleges are so central to our health system, they are responsible to their members, and to the community as a whole, for upholding the standards of our professions.
That trust cannot be taken for granted.
We ask that the College Boards act swiftly and decisively to reaffirm the governance standards all office holders are expected to meet.
Given the seriousness of these matters and the need to maintain member and public confidence, we request a written response within 14 days of the date of this letter.
We have written to the Council of President of Medical Colleges separately to make a similar request.
We raise these concerns because they engage important charitable governance obligations that, if left unresolved, may attract scrutiny from the Australian Charities and Not-for-profits Commission (ACNC). In keeping with the ACNC's preferred approach, we are seeking to resolve these matters through the College's own governance processes by raising them directly with the CPMC and the Colleges in the first instance.
We look forward to your urgent response.
Yours sincerely,
Dr Pramudie Gunaratne MD BMed BA (Int Rel) MMed (Psychiatry) MSc (Pub Health) FRANZCP GAICD
CEO/Executive Director
ASOPÂ
Dr Elizabeth Jackson Specialist Obstetrician Gynaecologist (Fellowship attained 2016) MBBS, NASOG, MReproMed, MMIS, MBA
President
NASOG
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