Troy Stolz
{{Short description|Australian whistleblower and gambling reform advocate}}
Troy Graham Stolz is an Australian whistleblower and gambling reform advocate. He is currently serving as a councillor for the Upper Hunter Shire Council since the 2024 New South Wales local government elections.{{cite web |last1=Flaherty |first1=Elizabeth |title=Editorial: Out with the Old, In with the New |url=https://scone.com.au/out-with-old-in-with-new/ |website=scone.com.au |access-date=2 November 2024 |archive-url=https://archive.today/20241102004954/https://scone.com.au/out-with-old-in-with-new/ |archive-date=2 November 2024 |date=1 October 2024 |url-status=live}}
He was the head of ClubsNSW's anti-money-laundering and counter-terrorism unit until 2019.{{Cite web |last=Alexander |first=Harriet |date=2022-09-21 |title='I've nothing to lose': Dying whistleblower sued by ClubsNSW |url=https://www.smh.com.au/national/nsw/i-ve-nothing-to-lose-dying-whistleblower-sued-by-clubsnsw-20220921-p5bjsr.html |access-date=2023-11-08 |website=The Sydney Morning Herald |language=en}} He leaked an internal report that stated that 95% of registered clubs in New South Wales were non-compliant with anti-money-laundering and counter-terrorism laws.
ClubsNSW lawsuit
Stolz was sued by ClubsNSW, with the former employer arguing that he owed a duty of confidence, and that Stolz had used confidential documents in his consulting work after leaving ClubsNSW.{{Cite news |last=Knaus |first=Christopher |date=2022-09-02 |title=Friendlyjordies' Jordan Shanks and ClubsNSW whistleblower face criminal contempt proceedings |language=en-GB |work=The Guardian |url=https://www.theguardian.com/media/2022/sep/02/friendlyjordies-jordan-shanks-and-clubsnsw-whistleblower-face-criminal-contempt-proceedings |access-date=2023-11-08 |issn=0261-3077}} The charges were settled shortly after ClubsNSW's CEO was fired.{{Cite web |date=2023-02-07 |title=ClubsNSW drops lawsuits against gaming whistleblower |url=https://www.perthnow.com.au/technology/gaming/clubsnsw-drops-lawsuits-against-gaming-whistleblower-c-9679905 |access-date=2023-11-08 |website=PerthNow |language=en}}{{Cite news |last=McGowan |first=Michael |date=2023-02-07 |title=ClubsNSW settles case with terminally ill whistleblower Troy Stolz |language=en-GB |work=The Guardian |url=https://www.theguardian.com/australia-news/2023/feb/07/clubsnsw-settles-case-with-terminally-ill-whistleblower-troy-stolz |access-date=2023-11-14 |issn=0261-3077}}
The decision to sue Stolz was widely criticised in the press,{{Cite web |last=Alexander |first=Harriet |date=2023-02-10 |title=After a row with his wife and a night in the caravan, Troy Stolz made a tough decision |url=https://www.smh.com.au/politics/nsw/after-a-row-with-his-wife-and-a-night-in-the-caravan-troy-stolz-made-a-tough-decision-20230209-p5cjas.html |access-date=2023-11-14 |website=The Sydney Morning Herald |language=en}} with casino mogul James Packer calling the lawsuit "ruthless [and] unethical".{{Cite web |last=Alexander |first=Harriet |date=2022-09-30 |title=James Packer hits out at ClubsNSW's 'ruthless unethical behaviour' |url=https://www.smh.com.au/national/nsw/james-packer-hits-out-at-clubsnsw-s-ruthless-unethical-behaviour-20220928-p5blmg.html |access-date=2023-11-14 |website=The Sydney Morning Herald |language=en}}
As part of the lawsuit, ClubsNSW obtained injunctive relief restraining Stolz from speaking about the conduct of ClubsNSW in a way that could "bring improper pressure on the respondent".{{Cite news |last=Knaus |first=Christopher |date=2021-11-17 |title=ClubsNSW wins federal court order restraining whistleblower from 'intimidating' statements |language=en-GB |work=The Guardian |url=https://www.theguardian.com/australia-news/2021/nov/17/clubsnsw-wins-federal-court-order-restraining-whistleblower-from-intimidating-statements |access-date=2023-11-14 |issn=0261-3077}} After an interview with YouTuber Jordan Shanks, both Stolz and Shanks were the target of criminal contempt of court proceedings for violating the restraining order, with ClubsNSW acting as a private prosecutor. These charges were dropped in February 2023.{{Cite news |last=Knaus |first=Christopher |date=2023-02-16 |title=ClubsNSW drops contempt charges against Friendlyjordies over pokies whistleblower |language=en-GB |work=The Guardian |url=https://www.theguardian.com/media/2023/feb/16/clubsnsw-drops-contempt-charges-against-friendlyjordies-over-pokies-whistleblower |access-date=2023-11-08 |issn=0261-3077}}
Political career
Stolz ran as an independent candidate in Kogarah at the 2023 New South Wales state election, campaigning on a platform of cashless gaming reform.{{Citation |last1=January 12 |title=Gambling whistleblower Troy Stolz challenging Chris Minns at state election |date=2023-01-12 |url=https://www.skynews.com.au/australia-news/politics/gambling-whistleblower-troy-stolz-challenging-chris-minns-at-state-election/video/069b4de0467ab2dda1cb13fd73bef981 |access-date=2023-11-08 |language=en |last2=2023 - 6:17pm}}{{Cite web |last=Gibbs |first=Erik |date=2023-01-12 |title=Australia's Gambling Failings Whistleblower Running for Political Seat in NSW |url=https://www.casino.org/news/whistleblower-who-spilled-on-australias-gambling-failings-running-for-political-seat-in-nsw/ |access-date=2023-11-08 |website=Casino.org |language=en-US}} His candidacy directly opposed Labor leader, Chris Minns, running for the same seat. Stolz called on the Labor leader to join in on the Liberal's plan to transition New South Wales to cashless pokies by 2028.{{Cite web |date=2023-03-21 |title=Ex candidate's surprise admission on Minns |url=https://www.albanyadvertiser.com.au/news/ex-lib-candidate-scott-yungs-surprise-support-for-chris-minns-in-kogarah-fight-c-10107597 |access-date=2023-11-13 |website=The Albany Advertiser |language=en}} Minns expressed reticence due to potential risks of exacerbating money loss during gambling.{{Cite news |last=Wang |first=Jessica |date=March 9, 2023 |title=NSW State Election 2023: Chris Minns, Troy Stolz face off in Kogarah candidate forum |work=News.com.au |url=https://www.news.com.au/national/nsw-act/politics/nsw-state-election-2023-chris-minns-troy-stolz-face-off-in-kogarah-candidate-forum/news-story/3dce9426316555b182944fdcbce89897 }} Stolz placed 4th, garnering 2,186 votes, or 4.3% of the votes.{{Cite web |publisher=NSW Electoral Commission |title=NSW STATE ELECTION RESULTS 2023 |url=https://pastvtr.elections.nsw.gov.au/SG2301/LA/kogarah/cc/fp_summary |access-date=2023-11-08 |website=pastvtr.elections.nsw.gov.au}}
In the 2024 New South Wales local government elections, Soltz ran as a councillor for the Upper Hunter Shire. He was elected in fourth place, garnering a total of 893 votes, or 10.9%.
Other advocacy
In November 2023, Stolz joined other whistleblowers in an open letter condemning the prosecution of Australian Army whistleblower David McBride.{{Cite web |last=Crosswell |first=Sally |date=2023-11-07 |title=Whistleblowers rally before McBride trial |url=https://www.qlsproctor.com.au/2023/11/whistleblowers-rally-before-mcbride-trial/ |access-date=2023-11-09 |website=Proctor |language=en-AU}}
Personal life
Stolz is currently battling stage 4 bone cancer.{{Cite web |last=Foote |first=Callum |date=2022-12-09 |title=Feds to step into Troy Stolz case after ClubsNSW hammers pokies whistleblower for four days |url=https://michaelwest.com.au/feds-to-step-into-troy-stolz-case-after-clubsnsw-hammers-pokies-whistleblower-for-four-days/ |access-date=2023-11-09 |website=Michael West |language=en-US}}