Forbes fall guy for Eagle Farm failure
QUEENSLAND racing is set to be overhauled, with the boss of the governing body standing down after a stunning broadside from Minister Stirling Hinchliffe yesterday.
A “fed-up” Mr Hinchliffe took the whip to Racing Queensland and chief executive Dr Eliot Forbes over the botched Eagle Farm track redevelopment.
Dr Forbes inherited the project after the previous botched attempt to fix the track between 2014 and 2016.
However, schedule blowouts, concerns over methodology for the new track and a falling-out with the project superintendents put Dr Forbes in the firing line.
It is understood the government was incensed at Racing Queensland’s lack of communication about Dalton Consulting Engineers quitting the project.
Mr Hinchliffe first learnt of it in The Courier-Mail.
Mr Hinchliffe launched a stinging attack in parliament yesterday, bringing on Dr Forbes’s resignation.
The minister relaunched his attack on Racing Queensland’s handling of the rebuild in parliament yesterday before the resignation of Dr Forbes.
“There have been too many excuses from Racing Queensland and others, too little clarity,” Mr Hinchliffe said. “It is time for the blame and finger pointing to end – in favour of working together.”
The government faces an embarrassing backlash, with Eagle Farm still no certainty to return to racing this year.
It last raced on May 27 last year and initially Racing Queensland and the government planned for an April return. But there is still 700m without turf.
The attack on Racing Queensland has placed the remaining board members on notice as the hunt for a new chief begins.
Current general manager Simon Stout will be acting in the role.
Chairman Steve Wilson said a national recruitment process was under way to find the best person to lead Racing Queensland.
Multiple premiership winning trainer Rob Heathcote said: “We need someone to stand up and get us out of it. Eliot Forbes was not the man for that job.”
However, country racing stalwart Stan Johnston said Dr Forbes had done more to bring the industry together than anyone in 20 years.
WE NEED SOMEONE TO STAND UP AND GET US OUT OF IT. ELIOT FORBES WAS NOT THE MAN FOR THAT JOB