The head of Queensland racing’s integrity body has reportedly quit his role ahead of the public release of a KPMG report into the organisation's workplace culture and management.
Shane Gillard, who had been chief executive and commissioner of the Queensland Racing Integrity Commission (QRIC) since December 2021, emailed staff on Monday to say he was stepping down.
The Courier Mail reported the latest development in the ongoing crisis in Queensland’s integrity system. It comes as the public awaits the release of a KPMG report into QRIC.
Racing Minister Grace Grace commissioned the review, which was to be conducted by KPMG in December. It began in January and was scheduled to report to Minister Grace in the first quarter of 2024.
The review was to look at:
- Findings and analysis of the current state of QRIC’s powers and managerial functions.
- Best practices in training, communication, and development programs for service delivery functions.
- Proposed actions for ongoing sustainability to elevate QRIC’s regulatory standards
- Recommendations for enhanced operational models of governance, decision-making, cultural change and support services
Intriguingly, Gillard was part of the review committee, along with Queensland's Thoroughbred Alliance members Cameron Partington, Luke Gatehouse (greyhound racing), and Daren Garrard (harness racing).
Minister Grace said in March that she would consider what details of the review to make public once she received the report.
Gillard reportedly informed staff on Monday that the Commission required a "full reset" with "refreshed leadership".
The decision also comes less than three months after Deputy Commissioner Natalie Conner resigned from her position in March.
QRIC has been involved in a number of high-profile integrity cases, including the long-running saga over the disqualification of Alligator Blood from the Magic Millions 3YO Guineas.
The four-year case now appears to be over after Justice Morrison dismissed the appeal from Racing Queensland and Queensland Racing Integrity Commission into Alligator Blood's disqualification being voided by the Supreme Court in December 2022.
QRIC was established in 2016 under a new Racing Integrity Act in response to a Commission of Inquiry conducted in 2015, which recommended the separation of the industry's welfare and commercial functions.
Its stated function is to monitor racing activities, uphold the Rules of Racing and safeguard the welfare of racing animals.
It reports to the Minister for Racing and is accountable to the Queensland Government under the Financial Accountability Act 2009.
Before joining QRIC on a three-year contract in December 2021, Gillard had been General Manager Integrity at Greyhound Racing Victoria for over five years. Before that, he had worked at WorkSafe Victoria.
