Clock ticks on entire Racing Queensland board

Queensland Racing Minister Grace Grace insists the process of determining the future make-up of the Racing Queensland board is under control, despite an April 30 deadline looming on the terms of all seven directors.

The remarkable and highly unusual situation will see Grace having to confront all seven directors’ terms ending concurrently, less than six months out from a state election.

Under the Racing Act 2002, the Governor in Council, usually advised by the Racing Minister,  must appoint or re-appoint members with a term of no more than three years, with four directors to be ‘non-industry’ members and three categorised as a member of the racing industry.

The three-year terms of four directors, Jodie Jones, Dale Cartwright, Graham Quirk and Sharon Dawson are up as of April 30, but so too are those of chairman Steven Wilson, Christopher Edwards and Jane Seawright, despite it being less than three years since that trio was appointed or re-appointed.

Asked about the expiration of the terms of all seven directors, Grace told The Straight the process was underway to form the RQ board for the next term.

“We are currently considering future appointments to the Racing Queensland Board and expect this process to be complete prior to the expiry of the current board on 30 April,” she said.

“Governments take a range of factors into consideration when appointing boards, including ensuring there is a good mix of experience, institutional knowledge, and fresh perspectives.”

However, The Straight believes there will be only minimal change to the current line-up, with only one director, Sharon Dawson, likely to step down.

Steve Wilson will likely continue as chairman, a role he has held since April 2016. There had been rumours of a change of leadership in recent months, but with a tight state election looming in October, the Miles government appears reluctant to make any further changes.

Grace insisted that as Racing Minister, she has maintained strong consultation with the industry about the challenges and opportunities facing Racing Queensland.

“There is no better friend to the racing industry than the Miles government and under our watch the sport has gone from strength to strength,” she said.

“I meet regularly with members of the racing industry to discuss a range of matters, including governance of the industry.”

Under the Racing Act, the three racing industry members must represent the three racing codes that come under Racing Queensland jurisdiction.

Quirk is the thoroughbred representative, Jones is on the board as a representative of harness racing, while greyhound racing is represented by Cartwright.

If Dawson, who has been on the board since 2016, is to step away as expected, a new appointee would have to be a non-industry member.

Former Labor minister Kate Jones had been considered a strong candidate to come on to the RQ board and even possibly replace Wilson as chair, but that appointment appears highly unlikely due to the political implications it would have.

While directors may be appointed for term as long as three years, they can be removed ‘from office as a member for any reason, or none’.

“There is no better friend to the racing industry than the Miles government and under our watch the sport has gone from strength to strength” – Queensland Racing Minister Grace Grace.

That means that should the Miles Government lose the election, something which is currently odds-on to happen, the new government could replace the entire Racing Queensland board on a whim.

Wagering executive Jason Scott was appointed to the Racing Queensland CEO job by the board last May. Scott, who formerly worked for Entain in Australia and Bet MGM in the United States, has been outspoken since assuming the role.

Do you know more about this story? Contact editor@thestraight.com.au.

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