THE alarm bells are ringing about ‘who will keep the crooks honest’ following the departure of Kim Kelly from the Queensland Racing Integrity Commission.
And it’s not only the punters who are voicing concerns. The chorus of protest has been loud since Racing Minister Tim Mander told the Estimates Hearing that ‘no-one was irreplacable’.
Critics are saying if he feels that way, then way hasn’t a replacement for Kelly been named with concerns that some of those being tipped are unacceptable.
LGHR was gob-smacked to receive the email below from one of the State’s leading trainers. There have been plenty of complaints voiced since Kelly left but we wanted to be sure this was authentic and even contacted the trainer involved to ensure it was.
Here’s what he had to say:
‘The loss of Kim Kelly, one of the best stewards in the world, was a major blow for Queensland Racing. He resigned as Deputy Commissioner of QRIC because he felt the organization was losing its true independence.
He objected to proposed structural changes from The Next Lap Review report that shifts major QRIC functions to Racing Queensland at a corporate level. It is no secret that Kelly and Review Chairman Matt McGrath, now the RQ Board Chairman, don’t see eye to eye. Perhaps the Minister felt one needed to go – if so, respectfully he made the wrong choice.
Many in the industry, who have seen what has happened in the past, especially under the RQ chairmanships of Bob Bentley and Kevin Dixon, agree with the Kelly belief that a regulatory body depending on a commercial organization like Racing Queensland blurs essential lines of separation and oversight.
Full marks to Kelly for openly admitting that the new hybrid governance model being adopted by the Government did not match his personal views or proper transparency, good governance and independent integrity.
It will be a sad day if the Minister listens to one of the former RQ Board Chairmen who reportedly wants to see his Chief Steward of that era returned to the fold. It is no secret that this person has ties with big punters and openly attended social gatherings with licensees during his term. Not a good look you might say.
The current Chairman of Stewards does his best but with Kelly not there to look over the shoulder of his top stipes throughout the State don’t count on too much action at the station.
The worry that my colleagues and I have is that there will be no more of the ‘mobile phone seizures’ and ‘close eye on certain identities’ now that Kelly has gone, especially if one of those being rumored to replace him gets the job.
Minister Mander blames the changes on the cost of running QRIC. As many have questioned ‘What price integrity’? This isn’t a sole concern for the punters. They are joined by many owners and trainers in lodging a loud protest that racing in Queensland runs the risk of deteriorating into a ‘free for all’ where the crooks will do what they like and the honest stakeholders can please themselves.’
