BRISBANE Racing Club Ltd (BRC) Chairman, Kevin Dixon, said today the new constitution for racing’s new Control Body remained hidden from all industry stakeholders.

The BRC has called for the secret Racing Queensland Ltd Constitution to be made public.

“Both the office of the Minster for Fair Trading and Tourism, Peter Lawlor MP and Queensland Racing Ltd (QRL) have confirmed, in writing, that a draft constitution for the new Control Body Racing Queensland Ltd exists,” Mr Dixon said.

“Both the Minister’s office and QRL have refused to release a draft of this most important document that will control the destiny of tens of thousands of Queensland jobs.

“QRL has taken the position that as race clubs will not be members of the new company it cannot release the documents.

“QRL, has advised BRC that when the constitution is finalised, it will be lodged with the Australian Securities and Investments Commission (ASIC) and BRC can obtain a copy from there.

“What does Minister Lawlor want to hide?” said Mr Dixon. “We suspect that this is setting the tone for the way this Government wants things run in the future.

“Minister Lawlor is obviously confident he and his handpicked few will get everything right, every time. He clearly believes he needs no industry input, and is willing to gamble the industry, the thousands of jobs it supports, and the millions of dollars of tax revenue in generates.

“For a State Government that says it prides itself on consultation, it is a particular concern that only those chosen few who stand to gain the most are involved, all other racing stakeholders, including those who put up the money, and those who make the industry work, are being left in the dark.

“This is in stark contrast to the situation in Victoria. The Government in Victoria has mandated that the control body consult with the industry on a monthly basis. In Queensland it is directed to have none.

“Minister Lawlor must be held to account for these monumental changes to the commercial and operational elements of every race club in Queensland,” he said.

For More information:

Kevin Dixon                Chairman Brisbane Racing Club                    0419 706 354

Stephen Ferguson      CEO Brisbane Racing Club                            07 3268 2171