Ash Rushton appointed as new Tasmanian director of racing, general manager of ORI

Tasmania’s embattled director of racing is set to move on from the role, with the state government announcing late on Friday that it had appointed another former police officer to take his place.

A new director of racing and general manager of the Office of Racing Integrity has been appointed.

A former police officer has been appointed as the state’s new director of racing amid a torrid period for the industry, which has seen an independent review launched into the racing watchdog’s management of team driving, race fixing and animal cruelty allegations.

The Department of Natural Resources and Environment Tasmania (NRE) announced late on Friday that Ash Rushton would commence in the roles of director of racing and general manager of the Office of Racing Integrity (ORI) on December 26, following a whole-of-government expressions of interest process.

This is despite the fact the state government had previously extended the tenure of Justin Helmich, the outgoing director, by six months to March next year.

Outgoing Director of Racing Justin Helmich (right). Picture: Chris Kidd

It’s understood Mr Helmich, who is also a former police officer, subsequently did not reapply to have his contract extended beyond March.

He had faced criticism for the way ORI handled allegations of misconduct in Tasmania’s harness racing industry under his watch.

These allegations are the subject of an independent review being undertaken by integrity expert Ray Murrihy.

The government has committed to releasing Mr Murrihy’s final report, which it received late last month.

“Mr Rushton, who has 38 years’ experience in emergency management, regulatory and statutory compliance, has managed legislative responsibilities at state and national levels,” an NRE spokeswoman said.

“He has been a regional manager and project director for the Tasmania Parks and Wildlife Service since 2008.”

The spokesperson said Mr Helmich would be “moving to a role at NRE”.

Labor racing spokesman Dean Winter said the decision to appoint another former police officer “with no experience in racing” to oversee the operations of the industry was “madness”.

Labor's racing spokesman Dean Winter.

“It will sentence our $200m racing industry to the same state of affairs it’s been dealing with for eight years – a dysfunctional Office of Racing Integrity,” he said.

“The continued approach of internal recruitment processes and appointment of people with no experience in racing has failed three times before and yet [Racing Minister] Felix Ellis has just done it again.”

Mr Winter noted that Mr Rushton would be the eighth director of racing in just seven years.

Independent Clark MP Kristie Johnston said the new director had “a significant challenge ahead of him”.

Independent MP Kristie Johnston.

“The industry is in terminal decline and has lost its social licence. If it has any chance of surviving then Mr Rushton will have to act swiftly and definitively to enforce better animal welfare standards and to ensure that there is integrity within the industry,” she said.

“One of his biggest challenges will be dealing with Tasracing, who firmly have their heads in the sand when it comes to dealing with the issues.”

Responding to questions from reporters on Saturday, government minister Madeleine Ogilvie said the government did not “comment on personal employment matters”.