Newly appointed Queensland Racing Integrity Commission deputy commissioner Kim Kelly is confident there won’t be a repeat of previous regime’s budget blowouts

Newly appointed Queensland Racing Integrity Commission deputy commissioner Kim Kelly says he has “supreme confidence” in his team as he ushers in a fresh era for the organisation.

The new Queensland Racing Integrity Commission leadership team. Commissioner Catherine Clark (front) and deputy commissioners Kim Kelly (left) with Chantal Raine (centre). Picture: Supplied

Newly-appointed Queensland Racing Integrity Commission deputy commissioner Kim Kelly says he has “supreme confidence” in his team as he ushers in a fresh era for the organisation.

The former Hong Kong chief steward was formally appointed to the role on Friday.

The integrity commission was plagued by budget blowouts under the leadership of the controversial Shane Gillard, who resigned last June, before a new team – headed by former Paralympics Australia boss Catherine Clark and featuring the widely-respected Kelly – was installed shortly before the election of the David Crisafulli Government.

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Kelly had been the QRIC’s acting deputy commissioner since September but now has been formally handed the keys to help drive the commission’s management, culture and reforms.

It comes at an important time for the industry, with ex-Australian Turf Club chairman Matt McGrath heading up a comprehensive review into Queensland racing.

Racing Minister Tim Mander announced the release of a key discussion paper early this month, with one of the priorities of the review being to further strengthen the integrity of Queensland’s racing industry.

Submissions to the discussion paper end next Sunday.

“I’m confident that the QRIC is in very strong hands, particularly with Catherine Clark as the commissioner and Chantal Raine as a deputy commissioner,” Kelly said.

“I’m very confident that the commission is in very good hands as far as the financial aspects of the organisation and the governance of the organisation are concerned.

“Now I’ve got my part to play in that in regards to the operational aspects of the organisation but as far as those other matters are concerned, I’ve got supreme confidence that QRIC is in a better position now than it was on the 12th of September when we took over.

“I have no doubt about that, I’m very confident in that respect.

“Now that’s a work in motion, it’s a fluid thing, because you’re always trying to be better.

“The minute that you think you’re as good as you can possibly be, well it’s time to get out and let someone else do the job because it means you’re not going to progress.

“There’s things that can be done better for sure. They’re not just click-your-finger events, they don’t happen overnight, but they are in progress.”

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Asked specifically what needed to be done better, Kelly said the regulation of racing was an “evolving beast”.

“It’s an evolving beast not only in Queensland but everywhere to make sure we’re exercising world’s best practice as far as stewarding, intelligence, compliance, sampling, all those types of things,” he said.

“It’s not just a case of looking at whatever the date is and saying ‘we’re as good as we can possibly be’ because if you’ve done that then you’ve stagnated straight away.

“It’s a case of looking forward and saying ‘this is where we are now, where can we be and what can we do that is going to improve, maintain and enhance the confidence of racing.”

Racing Minister Tim Mander applauded the appointment of Kelly as deputy commissioner of

QRIC, an independent statutory body established in 2016 to oversee the integrity and welfare of racing animals and participants.

“Kim Kelly is a world-renowned racing steward, who’s proven leadership capabilities are supported by his outstanding track record in racing in multiple jurisdictions across Australia and internationally,” Mander said.

“The best leaders possess a deep knowledge of the rules and the ability to make clear and decisive decisions and Kim Kelly has these attributes in abundance.”

Originally published as Newly appointed Queensland Racing Integrity Commission deputy commissioner Kim Kelly is confident there won’t be a repeat of previous regime’s budget blowouts