Switch to Queensland Racing Integrity Commission hits its first hurdle

THE switch to the Queensland Racing Integrity Commission has hit its first hurdle, with licensees unhappy with the delayed process for appeals and seeking a stay of proceedings

Queensland Racing Integrity Commissioner Ross Barnett.

THE switch to the Queensland Racing Integrity Commission has hit its first hurdle, with licensees unhappy with the delayed process for appeals and seeking a stay of proceedings.

While the QRIC internal review is free of charge, licensees now have to go to the Queensland Civil and Administrative Tribunal (QCAT) and pay $315.70 to seek a stay of proceedings.

It seems on July 1 not everyone at QCAT was up to speed with the new process, telling one trainer “we don’t deal with racing anymore”.

When apprentice Gina Mitchell went to QCAT to seek a stay, she was told it could take 21 days for an answer – clearly an unacceptable delay when riders are only given nine days from the initial suspension.

Previously, jockeys applied to Racing Queensland for a stay and in most instances it was granted without delay. Under the new legislation, stewards cannot rule on it.

Jockeys boss Glen Prentice met with Racing Integrity Commissioner Ross Barnett last week to air some of his constituents’ grievances.

Prentice is hopeful Barnett can meet with QCAT this week to work out a more workable system.

“As soon as we identified the problem and pointed out the system is flawed, he (Barnett) got straight on to it,” Prentice said.

“He told us he would endeavour to get it resolved and also undertook to have the internal review fast-tracked.”

Meanwhile the Racing Disciplinary Board, which was replaced by the internal review, is still working its way through a backlog of cases.

The most notable is Darryl Hansen’s TC02 case dating back to August last year.

Hansen was handed a nine-month disqualification by stewards.

Originally published as Switch to Queensland Racing Integrity Commission hits its first hurdle