EXCLUSIVE: Racing Minister launches review into Queensland Racing Integrity Commission

It can be revealed Grace launched the review following secret meetings with stakeholders over concerns of the performance of the Queensland Racing Integrity Commission, headed up by commissioner Shane Gillard, regarding a number of recent cases.

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QRIC has been dogged by criticism, with a growing disconnect between the industry and the regulatory body of late, which is often bogged down in bureaucracy, which Racenet revealed last month.

As one of the architects of QRIC following the MacSporran Review in 2016, Grace has called in independent reviewers to overlook its current powers and managerial functions along with best practices in training and communication.

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In its findings, due to be completed in the first quarter of 2024, the review has been tasked with handing down recommendations for enhanced governance and decision making.

“The Palaszczuk Government is committed to supporting a safe, sustainable racing industry operating to the highest standards of animal welfare and integrity,” Grace said.

“QRIC has been operating for seven years and in that time it has succeeded in implementing nation-leading animal welfare reforms and providing strong integrity oversight of racing.

“In an ever-evolving industry, we want to ensure that QRIC continues to deliver for racing participants and we believe it’s timely that after seven years an independent review into its operations is undertaken to ensure it remains a best practice regulator.”

QRIC has come under the spotlight from those in the industry over a number of high-profile cases, including:

* Their handling of the Chris Munce case, which dragged on for three years before being dropped.

* Gagging Group 1 trainer Rob Heathcote from criticism them following his Hemoplex case.

* Banning Desleigh Forster for animal cruelty for six months before having it quashed on appeal for a $7000 fine.

* Banning stablehand Ben Currie for 18 months after a horse tested positive to cocaine before having it halved on appeal.

* Losing a six-year battle to top harness trainer Darrel Graham over a cobalt charge which cost his family almost $500,000.

The organisation has also gone through a number of high-profile staff members during its short time, with its annual costs ballooning from $26.7m in 2016-2017 to a record $34.68m last year.

After pushing for the review, the Queensland Thoroughbred Alliance (trainers, jockeys and breeders) applauded Grace for her move.

“Once again it shows the Minister listens to the participants of racing, who just like the Government so heavily rely on our industry,” spokesman Cameron Partington said.

“We believe that a significant change in the culture and management style of QRIC is urgently needed and are hopeful the independent review will assist in determining this.

“The industry needs and deserves a much-improved working relationship within QRIC, both internally amongst their own people, and externally with its partners being industry participants and the Racing Queensland administration.”

In 2020, a cross-section of trainers took their concerns over QRIC public, saying QRIC was not doing enough to stop doping and cheating and has since been through commissioners Ross Barnett Mark Ainsworth and Paul Brown.

Originally published as EXCLUSIVE: Racing Minister launches review into Queensland Racing Integrity Commission