IN his popular column, ‘SILKS & SADDLES,’ published in the NORTH QUEENSLAND REGISTER, respected racing writer TERRY BUTTS reports on fallout from the Racing Commission of Inquiry.

Butts raises the prospect of a new chairman for the All Codes Board as recommended by the Inquiry to ensure independence rather than the current situation which leads to suggestions of conflict of interests.

Here is the Butts column:

INTERESTING SCENARIO FOR THE NORTH IN OUTCOME OF RACING INQUIRY

THE much-awaited Racing Commission of Inquiry findings has been delivered to the Queensland Government and includes an interesting scenario for Townsville.

The report recommends an amendment to the Racing Act to include a provision that the Chairperson of the Queensland All Codes Racing Industry Board be one of the two independent members of the industry.

The all-powerful All Codes body is currently headed by Racing Queensland Chairman Kevin Dixon. It includes Harness Racing Chairman Brad Steele (from Townsville) and Greyhound Chairman Michael Byrne (a prominent Brisbane silk).

The two independents appointed to the All Codes Board are Townsville-based Barry Taylor (who is the deputy chairman) and Greg Hallum (well known in the north as an official of the Local Government Association).

Recommendations of the Inquiry pave the way for either Taylor or Hallum to replace Dixon as Chairman of QACRIB. He has been under fire from some sections of the industry for his close ties with the Brisbane Racing Club (of which he was formerly Chairman) and the Toowoomba Turf Club (where the cushion track was recently replaced by StrathAyr at a cost that angered many stakeholders).

TAYLOR AND HALLUM THE TWO INDEPENDENTS TO CHOOSE FROM AS CHAIRMAN  

BARRY TAYLOR, the Townsville-based lawyer who operates Emanate Legal, has the business and racing credentials to make an excellent choice as Chairman of the All Codes Board.

Taylor is well respected on both sides of politics, has an extensive background in racing and sport and is seen to have the tough negotiating skills needed to negotiate a new TAB deal that can haul the industry back into prizemoney respectability.

His ‘take no prisoners’ approach is not everybody’s cup of tea but most believe he possesses the ‘mongrel’ instincts needed to deal with an industry that has proved politically impossible for most who have preceded him.

The big question though is whether Taylor has the time to take on the ‘big job’ in racing. Those who know him insist that he would only do that if he could devote 100 per cent to the task at hand and set his mind to ensuring that racing in Queensland regains the respect it has lost within the state and outside where it has degenerated into a joke.

Hallum, once Townsville based and now living in Brisbane, has impeccable credentials in business and racing but the downside of his appointment could be his closeness to Kevin Dixon. The last thing the industry needs is the replacement of a Chairman with a ‘perceived conflict of interest’ by someone who many stakeholders see simply as ‘Kevin’s mouth-piece’.

There is also a suggestion that some high profile politicians don’t want to see Hallum appointed Chairman which could catapult Taylor to the job if the Government makes the decision. Even if it comes down to a vote of the QACRIB Board, reports from inside Deagon headquarters suggest that Taylor has the numbers there as well which will surprise some Dixon supporters.

There is no secret that feelings have been running high between some members on the Board. Unconfirmed reports suggest Taylor and Steele have been targeted to go by supporters of the Dixon camp. That isn’t going to happen and in fact the whole landscape of racing administration could soon change.

Kevin Dixon, seen as the White Knight of racing after the Labor Government appointed him to negotiate a peace deal and oversee the merger of the Queensland Turf Club and Brisbane Racing Club, was the initial interim RQ chairman appointed when the LNP Government took office and the Bob Bentley Board departed.

But the industry and observers have become increasingly dissatisfied with his performance and in particular some of the decisions made which have been perceived to be for clubs that supported him and against those who were seen as supporters of the Bentley regime. The Racing Inquiry has highlighted the need for an ‘independent chairman’ after taking voluminous evidence.

There is also a strong report from inside the Deagon bunker that all is not happy between Dixon and one of the Board members on Racing Queensland who is highly respected and reportedly believes that the ‘ lack of a level playing field’ argument has some legs.

Taylor, as boss of QACRIB, appears the answer to the industry woes. It just remains to be seen if he will take the big job.

FINDINGS OF RACING COMMISSION OF INQUIRY CENTRE ON ‘MISMANAGEMENT’

THE Queensland Racing Commission of Inquiry has found that the industry is plagued with serious management failures and has recommended a number of former Board members and senior racing executives be investigated by the Australian Securities Investment Commission (ASIC).

Releasing the Inquiry’s report, Attorney-General Jarrod Bleijie and Minister for Racing Steve Dickson thanked Commissioner Margaret White AO and said the Queensland Government would now carefully consider the recommendations.

Mr Bleijie said the report shone a light on a dark chapter in Queensland racing’s history and made recommendations to ensure the same serious problems didn’t resurface in the future.

“Racing Queensland was funded by taxpayers but the Inquiry found it was essentially being run like a personal empire with little Government oversight of several procedural matters,” Mr Bleijie said.

“The report outlined a range of issues including a ‘flat’ and ‘unsatisfactory’ management whose members ‘may also be found not to have acted in the best interests of the company’.

“It also found then Chairman Bob Bentley ‘did not act with integrity’ at times and, along with board member Bill Ludwig ‘compromised its ability to fulfil its functions in accordance with good corporate governance principles’.

“In addition, the report found senior officers and executives’ salaries went unchecked and contracts were awarded without due process.”

INQUIRY COULD NOT DETERMINE VALUE FOR MONEY’ IN INFRASTRUCTURE PROJECTS

THE Attorney-General said as a consequence of ‘inadequate procurement practices’, the inquiry could not determine whether value for money was achieved in major infrastructure projects, specifically those under Contour Consulting Engineers.

“It is astounding that an industry of its significance and capacity lacked basic structure,” he said.

“The inquiry identified a range of matters that should be referred to ASIC for investigation, including payments to employees coinciding with the day this government was sworn in to office.”

Some of the key points and recommendations raised in the summary include:

• Investigating whether the functions of the Racing Science Centre are required within government, and whether they can be outsourced or absorbed into a larger organisation;
• Amend the Racing Act to include a provision that the Chairperson of the Queensland All Codes Racing Industry Board be one of the two other members independent of the industry; and
• That a financial model is developed to support the three codes of racing, reducing the reliance on Government funding and whether a national regulatory body for wagering is required.

Minister for Racing Steve Dickson said the Newman Government’s decision to establish the Queensland All Codes Racing Industry Board and three code specific control boards ensured that the report’s finding that the previous structure was unsatisfactory had already been addressed.

“From day one, this Government has worked hard to re-establish confidence and integrity in an industry that had been brought to its knees under a Labor Government who was effectively asleep at the wheel,” he said.

“The dark days of racing being run as someone’s own private empire are over.

“This is an industry that now answers to Queenslanders.

“Racing is worth hundreds of millions of dollars to the Queensland economy, and the Newman Government has worked hard to lay the foundations for a strong industry that will be sustainable into the future.

“Country racing, which was left to stagnate under the previous Labor Government, has been revitalised with an injection of $4 million over four years, to allow regional Queensland to benefit from a further 20 race meetings annually.

“This is in addition to the $110 million dollars being invested in racing infrastructure over five years.”

Mr Bleijie thanked Commissioner White and assisting counsel for their comprehensive report.

“As we look forward, we must learn from this to ensure what happened under the former Labor Government is never repeated,” he said.

“This report has paved the way for a better industry – an industry for which all Queenslanders can be proud.”

A copy of the report can be accessed on the Racing Inquiry’s website later today: www.racinginquiry.qld.gov.au

HAS THE CONTROVERSIAL RACE DATES PROPSOAL CLAIMED ITS FIRST VICTIM?

REPORTS suggest that the controversial race dates draft has claimed its first victim.

Mark Sweeney, the Thoroughbred Racing Manger who took over after years as Senior Betting Steward, has departed RQ but the control body refuses to comment on whether he resigned or was shown the door.

In contrast to the recent resignation of Damien Raedler after decades of involvement with Queensland harness racing, there was no Media Release to announce or explain Sweeney’s departure.

Some are suggesting it had something to do with the controversy surrounding the race dates draft for which he was apparently responsible. 

RQ has refused to release a copy of the draft dates publicly but we are reliably informed that while clubs like Cairns, Beaudesert and, of course, Toowoomba, are said to be celebrating, others are not.

Mind you it is only a draft, explained  RQ CEO Darren Condon when he declined our request  to supply a copy of the dates that have the champagne bottles popping in Cairns – which, according to my usually reliable northern source, could have an amazing eight prized TAB dates next year – up from three.

 “But Beaudesert apparently did even better. They are in for 15 TAB dates next year,” my informant explained.

“Surely that can’t be right,” I responded.

“Just wait and see.”

Interesting times at RQ headquarters especially amid reports that initial TAB deal talks with Tattersall’s involving Chairman Kevin Dixon and CEO Darren Condon will deliver little – if any more – good news on the prizemoney front for the industry.

BIG CHARITY DAY TO BENEFIT THE TOWNSVILLE NIPPERS AT CLUDEN

DON’T forget the big Nipper’s Charity Day at Cluden on Sunday – that’s the meeting rescheduled after the rain from a recent cyclone forced it to be called off a fortnight ago.

The Townsville Turf Club is encouraging race-goers to support the Arcadian and Picnic Bay Surf Lifesaving Club and the great work they do with their Nippers.

COLUMN COURTESY OF TERRY BUTTS AND THE NORTH QUEENSLAND REGISTER, one of Australia's leading rural newspapers.

TERRY BUTTS can be contacted by e-mailing: This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.