A Racing Appeals Panel is to be established within the Queensland Racing Integrity Commission (QRIC) following a review of the Queensland Racing Integrity Act.
Minister for Racing, Stirling Hinchliffe said the review identified a range of needed reforms, including how some decisions made by racing stewards were subsequently dealt with.
“The review of the Act identified concerns with the internal review model used to examine original decisions by racing stewards,” Mr Hinchliffe said.
“At the moment, the internal review is done by a single officer, and the establishment of a Racing Appeals Panel will provide a broader degree of independence and expertise.”
Mr Hinchliffe said the panel would be appointed in 2021 and, if required, could call on external experts from the racing industry.
“Stakeholders also expressed serious concerns that stays of decisions granted by the Queensland Civil and Administrative Tribunal represent a loophole that allows industry participants to continue operating pending a review, despite allegations of serious and/or repeated breaches of the rules of racing,” the Minister said.
“Applications for stays of certain decisions will not be permitted if they relate to human or animal welfare, serious animal cruelty offences, the integrity of the racing industry, or serious repeated breaches.”
He said the new panel would go a long way towards addressing the legitimate concerns industry holds about a small number of participants gaming the system and putting the integrity of the whole racing industry under question.
Commissioner for the QRIC, Ross Barnett said any changes to the appeals model that improved industry confidence in the Commission’s decision-making was a good thing.
“The specific breaches for which applications for stays will not be permitted will be identified in consultation with key stakeholders and implemented through legislative amendments,” Mr Barnett said.
