Minister demands action
RACING Queensland remained tight-lipped last night on when it will act on the wishes of Racing Minister Stirling Hinchliffe to invoke a rule of racing that would allow it to refuse nominations from the Ben Currie stable.
Racing Queensland officials declined to comment on the matter yesterday but last night the minister’s office reaffirmed that Hinchliffe wants “a swift resolution” to the matter.
Under the state’s Racing Act, the minister has the power to make directions to the control body on all matters, excluding prizemoney distribution and race dates.
Hinchliffe said he expected Racing Queensland to act on legal advice to refuse nominations from Currie for all races in Queensland while he was facing charges.
Meanwhile, the tribunal hearing into the latest two alleged jigger charges against Currie will continue in Brisbane today when it is expected the trainer will give evidence via phone from overseas.
The hearing began on Monday and continued yesterday. Tomorrow, the Queensland Civil and Administrative Tribunal is scheduled to hear Currie’s bid to secure a stay on the suspension of his licence after the Queensland Racing Integrity Commission stood him down in February pertaining to seven new charges, including jigger-related allegations.
Currie is in Bali where he is best man at a wedding and has missed the first two days of the stewards inquiry, which has dealt with legal issues.
The charges were brought after an examination of his mobile phone and involve incidents from 2015.
He was originally charged with two animal cruelty charges but they have been dropped for the alternate charges of improper practice involving the content of texts found on the phone.
Currie’s lawyer Jim Murdoch, QC, confirmed the legal issues were resolved and Currie would give evidence by phone and could be cross examined this afternoon.
Currie is expected to also give evidence by phone tomorrow in an application to extend a stay of an order which stood him down from training after seven other charges were laid against him in February.
In all Currie faces 42 allegations none of which have been resolved in a series of inquiries and planned inquiries.
The saga has led to a shakeup in the executive for the Queensland branch of the Australian Trainers Association, with Murdoch stepping down from his role as vice-president.
“With the recent developments and the potential that there is a likelihood of this issue continuing for some time, Jim Murdoch has asked to stand down from his position due to some members’ concerns,” branch spokesman Cameron Partington said.
Chris Munce has resigned as president, citing the concerns from many of his owners that “this issue is not being satisfactorily addressed by the industry regulators as a whole”.
Pat Duff has assumed the role of caretaker president.