Stolz said the move by ClubsNSW had only firmed his resolve to keep fighting for the right to disclose information in the public interest about money laundering in registered clubs. He had already sold his house on the Central Coast and moved to Merriwa in the Hunter Valley to pay off $900,000 racked up in legal fees.
“At this point I’ve got nothing to lose,” Stolz said. “ClubsNSW is using the court system to slap orders[on me] and run me down rabbit holes,to drive me crazy and damage my health. They’ll do anything to get their way.”
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ClubsNSW is also suing Stolz for disclosing confidential information,and has included in its action a claim against his wife,who will now be forced to continue fighting after he is gone.
The civil claim relates to an internal ClubsNSW report dated May 2019 that found 95 per cent of registered clubs in NSW did not comply with anti-money laundering and counter-terrorism laws. Stolz leaked the report to Independent MP Andrew Wilkie,TheSydney Morning Herald and the ABC in 2020,after allegedly failing to get traction when he raised issues internally.
It was the beginning of a long and complicated process of litigation by ClubsNSW,which has variously pursued Stolz for breaching the confidentiality clause of his contract,intimidating the organisation through his commentary on social media,breaching court orders and criminal contempt. Stolz had initiated legal action by suing ClubsNSW for defamation and employee entitlements.
An interim suppression order on the case was lifted last month.