The Australian Rugby League Commission is the official governing body of rugby league football within Australia. It was founded, as the Australian Rugby League 'Board of Control', in 1924, jointly by the New South Wales Rugby League and the Queensland Rugby League. Since 1924, all other state and territory Rugby League governing bodies have become affiliated to the League. The completely restructured ARL Commission was formally established on 10 February 2012 and took control of all aspects of the game in Australia. From 1998-2012, the National Rugby League Partnership, a power-sharing arrangement between News Corporation and the Australian Rugby League, ran the National Rugby League competition as a consequence of the Super League war. Other teams and competitions were run by the Australian Rugby League or state Leagues. Prior to 1998, the code in Australia had been administered largely by individual state leagues on a domestic basis, and the ARL on a national and international basis. Legally, the ARL Commission is the existing, original ARL corporate entity, but with an entirely new constitution and regulatory framework. This effectively means that the game has been governed by the same overarching body in Australia since 1924.
Scope
The ARL Commission is the highest authority on the game of rugby league football within Australia. All affiliated leagues and clubs within Australia are under the ARLC's jurisdiction.
The appointment of the original nine commissioners was intensely followed by the media. Placement firm Spencer Stuart shortlisted a list of potential members and the NRL Partnership whittled it down to the current members. Commissioners were required to not have had any link to any rugby league football governing body or organisation for the previous 2 years to ensure their independence. The inaugural ARL Commissioners were agreed by representatives of the NRL Partnership, the Leagues and the NRL clubs. Future Commissioners are appointed by the Commission itself.
Election
The Commissioners are appointed into different groups and, initially, for differing terms. Each Commissioner must, at a nominated time, resign and seek re-election at an Annual General Meeting. Commissioners in Group A must stand down before the 2013 Annual General Meeting, where they may re-apply for their position. Group B members must stand down before the 2014 AGM and Group C members must stand down before the 2015 meeting. Ten members may, with the additional support of both the NSW and Queensland Rugby Leagues, vote to remove a Commissioner. Fourteen members are required to remove a Commissioner without the support of both the NSW and Queensland Rugby Leagues. Should either of these events occur, the remaining Commissioners would appoint a replacement. A Commissioner who has been removed from office may not seek re-appointment for a period of three years.
was the initial chief executive officer. He was originally the CEO of the NRL and his contract extension to become inaugural ARLC CEO was a condition placed by News Limited with the ARL. On 5 June 2012 the ARLC announced his departure from the ARLC CEO position and he will take a position at the FFA in 2013. David Smith was announced as the new ARLC CEO in November 2012, taking charge on 1 February 2013. Gary Pemberton, a former chairman of Qantas, Billabong and Racing NSW, and one of the seven commissioners appointed to the newly formed ARLC in February 2012, announced in July 2013 that he would retire from his role on 31 October.
