Racing board to face the axe
BRISBANE: The entire Racing Queensland board is facing the sack after being accused of allowing widespread live-baiting and animal cruelty to tarnish greyhound racing.
In the industry’s biggest shake-up in recent history, the board could be replaced by a new seven-member committee that would include at least four people who have had no involvement in racing for at least the past two years.
Racing Queensland CEO Darren Condon is also tipped to be swept aside.
The proposal to install new leadership is a key recommendation made by inquiry commissioner Alan MacSporran, QC, who yesterday delivered his report into the embattled greyhound industry to Premier Annastacia Palaszczuk.
The new board would comprise a minimum of four new members with strong corporate backgrounds and one representative each from the racing codes.
The individual thoroughbred, harness and greyhound boards would be abolished.
Mr MacSporran was highly critical of the Racing Queensland board and executive for “systemic failures”, accusing officials of turning a “blind eye” to trainers who allegedly used live possums and pigs to blood greyhounds.
He said the lack of action against the “archaic and barbaric practice” had dealt “an almost terminal blow” to public confidence in the sport.
“It is difficult to understand how anyone with a close association with or involvement in the industry could express surprise that the practice of live baiting was still occurring when it must have been obvious that there has been a lack of proactive monitoring of premises of industry licensees,” his report said.
He also said: “This must have encouraged those directly involved that they could continue with impunity.”
Mr MacSporran also took aim at Mr Condon over his treatment of Animal Liberation Queensland activist Hayley Cotton, who tried to raise concerns of live baiting.
But he said Mr Condon’s role in overseeing all three codes “may be a task beyond the capability of one person”.
Ms Palaszczuk is expected to announce the Government’s response to the inquiry report in parliament today.
She said the Government would act quickly to prevent a repeat of the “deeply distressing” live-baiting scandal, which was exposed by ABC’s Four Corners in February
“I want to make it very clear to Queenslanders that those responsible will be brought to justice,” she said.
Racing Minister Bill Byrne, who ordered the inquiry, refused to comment last night.