🔒 🔒 The never-ending chairman: All’s Phair as government dithers on Tasracing replacement

Tasmania may have had six different racing ministers since Gene Phair took over as Tasracing chairman in 2018, but his own departure, mandated by state legislation, continues to be delayed by the state government’s failure to decide.

Phair has been a constant presence on the Tasracing board at a time when a cavalcade of ministerial scandals has engulfed Tasracing itself.

While his second term expired in May, marking the completion of his maximum eight years on the board, and with the Racing Act mandating his replacement, there has been no decision forthcoming from the government as to his replacement either on the board or in the role of chair.

Roger Jaensch took over as racing minister on June 16, after the previous minister Jane Howlett was forced to stand down. Jaensch also holds the Arts, Community and Multicultural Affairs, Tourism, Hospitality and Events portfolios, and it is clear that appointing a replacement for Phair has not been at the top of his list.

The Straight asked the government for comment on the timing of any new chairman announcement. It has yet to receive an answer.

There is a further complication. In June, Phair was appointed as chair of Racing NT, heading up a new-look body to oversee racing in the Northern Territory.  

“This is an important opportunity to build a strong and sustainable future for racing in the Northern Territory,” Phair said at the time.

“I look forward to working with industry participants, clubs and stakeholders to strengthen governance, support growth and ensure racing continues to deliver for communities across the Territory.”

The Straight understands that Phair’s role in the NT won’t commence until later in the year, meaning he is unlikely to be the head of both boards.

But the situation highlights the potentially embarrassing scenario where Phair could walk away from his duties in Tasmania, leaving it without a chair.

Steve Old, the chief executive of the Tasmanian Hospitality Association and chair of the Tasmanian JackJumpers, is the vice chair.

The board also contains Kelly Walker, Neil Grose, Bart McCulloch, Charlotte Mills and David Higgins.

Tasracing advertised for non-executive commercial directors in September last year, after which time experienced racing executive Mills and prominent breeder McCulloch were appointed.

A new Tasracing chair will play a crucial role in a key period of transition for the Tasmanian racing industry.

The Rockliff government is still pursuing a ban on greyhound racing from mid-2029 after a stunning post-election decision last August, although it is yet to get the support to get the ban through parliament.

There is also the looming end to a 20-year funding agreement in July 2029, after which point there is no guaranteed state government backing for the thoroughbred and harness codes.

The existing funding deed, secured after the sale of the Tasmanian tote in 2009, provides around $38 million a year to Tasracing, or around 54 per cent of the industry’s revenue.

Howlett’s sudden resignation in June left the industry in limbo after two years of negotiations on a new funding deed.

During her second spell in the racing portfolio, Howlett also oversaw a major integrity overhaul after a series of scandals across all three codes.

Sean Carroll was brought in as the inaugural Tasmanian Racing Integrity Commissioner, a position directly answerable to the minister. Some in the Tasmanian racing industry see the power afforded to that role as excessive.

It was the previous minister’s dealings with Tasracing which contributed to her downfall in June, with scrutiny over whether she had breached caretaker conventions in her communications with the racing body during last year’s state election campaign.

Howlett was quizzed again at a parliamentary hearing late last week about the issue, which focuses on a statutory declaration from her former chief of staff.

Howlett tabled the statement, which said the staffer was not aware of Tasracing’s plan to issue public communication about the Liberals’ TasInsure policy ahead of the election, sparking claims she had misled parliament.