IN what is being described as the ‘last stand’ for Queensland Racing a group of powerful industry stakeholders is preparing for a major fight to force the Government to give them some say in what they see as an inevitable takeover by QRL chairman Bob Bentley.

The group, which includes several major clubs from the city to the country, want Premier Anna Bligh to be aware of the lack of consultation and public disclosure in the decision by Racing Minister Peter Lawlor to legislate an integrated control board for the three codes.

“This could be legislated in the next month or two and we continue to be refused basic information on what has been proposed by Bob Bentley. Some of the things that we are hearing will mean race clubs and industry groups will have no rights whatsoever,” a spokesman for the group said last night.

“We are not against merging the three codes but surely we are entitled to be consulted and make submissions on what is planned. That usually happens in any business or democratic society.

“Harness racing is going to take the fight public by placing newspaper advertisements. At least that industry has the unanimous support of its stakeholders. The way the constitution operates in Queensland Racing Limited only those who Bentley and his cronies want seem to control the sport and have the say.

“Many stakeholders are feeling so intimidated. Even in our group there are strong leaders who fear if they speak out it will impact on the future of their clubs. This is no way to run an industry or a business – through stealth and fear.”

The group plans to by-pass Minister Lawlor in lodging an objection with Premier Bligh and other high ranking Government leaders. “We know there is a big fight on our hands here because there of the influence that Bill Ludwig has on the Labor Party. There is even a suggestion that this is his idea and that the Government is just using Bentley to push the barrow.”

Some of the issues the protest group want to raise with the Premier include:

1. (1) The fact that this legislation is being drawn up, apparently within the Minister’s own department, without any industry consultation, any public disclosure and any likelihood of submissions being called for or allowed before it is introduced.
2. (2) The fact that this will continue the long-term reign of Bob Bentley over racing in Queensland. That it will give Bentley and his Board another five years without having to stand for re-election whilst under the current QRL constitution they only get three. Bob Bentley, his deputy Tony Hanmer and Bill Ludwig will escape having to stand for re-election over the next two years.
3. (3) Reports that the Racing and Betting Act will be changed to remove any say that race clubs and stakeholders currently have in the running or control of the industry. There is a suggestion that the corporation being set up to run the integrated board will basically be run by the chairman and his deputy. Clubs and stakeholders may as well be non-existent if that happens as they will have no say whatsoever.
4. (4) The fact that Minister Lawlor appears to have adopted the Bentley approach to racing administration described by Shadow Minister Ray Stevens in Parliament as ‘intimidating and coercive bully-boy style tactics.’
5. (5) The fact that it appears Bentley has decided to try and take-over as many racetrack assets as he can in Queensland and they want the Premier to declare he is not doing this to improve the Government’s AAA credit rating as has been suggested.

What the lobby group will be seeking an assurance from the Premier on is:

1. (1) How Government money allocated to the three codes will be spent and what business plan has been drawn up by Bob Bentley in his Issues Paper to the Government on this expenditure.
2. (2) An assurance that racing industry stakeholders will have no rights removed and just as much say under the integrated body as they have now (although some believe this is already too limited).
3. (3) An agreement that the term of the Board will be limited to three years not five and that the Board will not be permitted to co-opt individuals in the event of a Board vacancy without going back to the original ‘short list’ used when the current QRL Board vacancies were filled.
4. (4) An agreement that the merged board will be forced to protect jobs of those currently employed by the three individual boards and that any additional executive positions are advertised nationally to get the best possible candidates.
5. (5) And hopefully some say in who is appointed chairman and deputy chairman of the integrated Board as the current situation certainly has many in the three codes extremely concerned.

There are also moves afoot to have a new Queensland Trainers’ Association formed amid disenchantment with the current branch of the ATA, which some members feel is too keen to support the Bentley regime.

Gerard Betros, a lecturer and business strategist from the University of Southern Queensland, is seen as a likely leader of the new trainers’ body. He has just completed a review of the Governance structure for Queensland Racing and proposed a new model which many key industry figures believe the Government should consider before proceeding with any legislative change.