‘Did you ask how Ben was’: Racing minister Jane Howlett’s hazy recall of trackside Yole encounter

The Murrihy report dominated a budget estimates hearing on Wednesday, with the Racing Minister quizzed about whether she offered her personal support to warned-off trainer, Ben Yole.

Ben Yole.

The Murrihy report into Tasmania’s harness racing industry dominated a sometimes heated budget estimates hearing on Wednesday, with Minister for Racing, Jane Howlett, questioned about whether she offered her personal support to warned-off trainer, Ben Yole.

Former NSW Chief Steward Ray Murrihy was commissioned to investigate media reports of team driving and race fixing by the Tasmanian industry’s dominant trainer, Mr Yole, who was eventually found to have breached multiple rules of racing.

Minister for Racing Jane Howlett during budget estimates on Wednesday in Hobart. Picture: Nikki Davis-Jones

The report, which was described as a “dark day for racing” by then-racing minister Felix Ellis upon its release in January, also upheld multiple allegations of animal mistreatment at the Yole property at Sidmouth.

Appearing before a committee of House of Assembly MPs, Ms Howlett was asked by Labor Opposition Leader, Dean Winter, if she had spoken with Mr Yole’s father, Wayne Yole, at Elwick racecourse earlier this year, in the weeks following the Murrihy report’s release.

“Did you ask Mr Yole how Ben was?” Mr Winter asked.

“Minister, did you say to Wayne Yole that if Ben had anything he needed, that he should give you a call?”

After being criticised by Mr Winter for consulting ministerial advisers seated behind her in the committee room hearing, Ms Howlett replied: “I wouldn’t think so.”

“It’s a yes or no,” the Opposition Leader responded.

“I have answered your question,” the Minister said.

Opposition Leader Dean Winter during budget estimates hearing. Picture: Nikki Davis-Jones

Mr Winter told the committee that the Murrihy inquiry’s terms of reference did not require it to lay charges, and quizzed the Minister on whether her office or department had asked Mr Murrihy to prosecute individuals named in the final report.

Mr Winter said the failure to include laying necessary charges in the terms of reference was an oversight that had led to an additional almost 12 months of uncertainty for those Tasmanians who continued to participate in our industry.

“Can you confirm Mr Murrihy was asked to lay charges at the end, or nearing the end, of his work, but he refused to do so?” Mr Winter asked.

“This was an independent review, so I have no visibility of that,” the Minister responded, saying the Tasmanian government had publicly released an unredacted copy of the Murrihy report, and said the implementation of its response was well underway.

Ms Howlett said a departmental committee overseeing the report’s implementation had reported more time was required to consider evidence still under investigation.

“The final report will be provided to me on the 30th of September,”

“It’s important that the work of the independent stewards panel can continue without any political interference, and I won’t comment any more on these matters.

“But what I will say is that I back the actions of Tasracing, and that licensed participants with adverse findings following the investigation should be held accountable.

“I note that Tasracing and the industry have also made changes to improve on-track competitiveness by implementing a revised advised equality-in-participation policy.

“This supports Mr Murrihy’s advice that the greatest safeguard against adverse integrity matters is increased competition.”