Racing
The Office of Racing provides a policy and regulatory framework which maintains public confidence in the integrity and accountability of the Queensland racing industry.
Our clients
At the Office of Racing, our clients include the three approved racing control bodies:
- Queensland Racing Limited
- Queensland Harness Racing Limited
- Greyhounds Queensland Limited.
The Office also provides secretariat support to the Racing Animal Welfare and Integrity Board.
We sustain public confidence in the racing industry by monitoring control bodies for compliance with the Racing Act 2002 and providing advisory and investigatory services to our clients. We also maintain integrity in the Queensland racing industry through the provision of a broad range of scientific and animal welfare services.
Structure
- Under Treasurer, Gerard Bradley
- Deputy Under Treasurer, David Ford
- Exectuive Director, Mike Kelly
- Director, Investigations and Compliance, Carol Perrett
- Manager, Racing Science Centre, Alan Roberts
- Exectuive Director, Mike Kelly
- Deputy Under Treasurer, David Ford
Key issues facing the output
- Integration of the Liquor Licensing Division, Queensland Office of Gaming Regulation and Office of Racing to form the Office of Liquor, Gaming and Racing. This is being undertaken to ensure communities benefit from a more robust regulatory framework and more comprehensive and consistent harm-minimisation measures.
- Providing strategic advice to Government and industry regarding issues with racing facilities in Queensland.
- Monitoring and assessing control body compliance with the Racing Act 2002.
- Monitoring, assessing and responding to the dynamic legislative and operational framework that impacts on the Queensland racing industry, including interstate ‘race fields’ legislation and the implications of the High Court’s Betfair decision.
Output performance highlights
| Measure | Target | Actual |
|---|---|---|
| Quality | ||
| Service level agreement performance standards for delivery of drug control, animal welfare, disease control and other services met | Yes | Yes |
| Annual accreditation of the Racing Science Centre to international standards maintained | Yes | Yes |
| Percentage of investigations completed to required standard | 95% | 100% |
| Timeliness | ||
| Percentage of drug sample analyses completed within 10 working days | 95% | 98% |
Our business priorities
Business priority
Assist the Queensland racing industry to maintain compliance with the Racing Act 2002 and to improve its animal welfare and integrity practices and procedures.
- Aiding industry recovery from equine influenza
In 2007–08, equine influenza was a significant issue for the Queensland racing industry.
The Office of Racing collaborated with the lead agency, the Department of Primary Industries and Fisheries (DPIF), providing support and advice during one of the industry’s biggest challenges.
Our Office provided industry knowledge to DPIF, aiding their collaboration with the racing industry. The advice and assistance we gave ensured a faster supply of crucial information to DPIF to address this industry crisis.
The Office of Racing continues working with racing bodies on animal welfare and compliance issues that may reduce the occurrence and damage of any future emergent disease outbreak.
Business priority
Support and assist the Greyhound Racing Authority and the Queensland Harness Racing Board to progress corporatisation and achieve approval as control bodies by 1 July 2008 as required by the Racing Act 2002.
- Increasing racing industry independence
The Office of Racing assisted the Greyhound Racing Authority and the Queensland Harness Racing Board gain commercial and corporate flexibility by assisting them to transition from statutory bodies to a new corporate structure.
Through the development of the Racing Amendment Act 2008, the Office provided the legislative environment required for these two racing control bodies to progress to a corporate structure.
On 1 July 2008, Greyhounds Queensland Limited was approved as the control body for greyhound racing, and Queensland Harness Racing Limited as the control body for harness racing under the Racing Act 2002.
The new corporate structure provides the industry with more flexibility and independence, enabling it to be more responsive in a modern and competitive wagering environment.
Business priority
Monitor control body compliance under the Racing Act 2002.
- Ensuring public accountability
By ensuring control body compliance with the Racing Act 2002, the Office of Racing helps maintain public confidence in the racing industry.
Each year our Office ensures control body compliance through an annual Control Body Assessment (CBA) program, which identifies and reviews racing bodies’ compliance on key issues.
In 2007–08, we reviewed control bodies’ emergency disease preparedness to ensure compliance with the Racing Act.
Assessing racing bodies’ compliance with the Racing Act helps maintain public confidence in the racing industry. The CBA program will continue in 2008–09.
The Office of Racing also offered professional training to control body staff in 2007–08 to identify, manage and respond to conflicts of interest.
Our Office will continue to provide assistance to racing control bodies throughout 2008–09 as required, to assist them in effectively managing corporate governance issues.
We also help sustain public accountability by investigating complaints lodged with our Office.
Control bodies or individuals may report suspected instances of misconduct, or make a complaint regarding suspected non-compliance with the Racing Act.
Our Office investigates and deals with these complaints at a local level and refers matters on to other bodies where appropriate.
Business priority
Research, monitor and assess new developments and trends in the racing industry within Australia and overseas.
- Keeping pace with industry developments
The Office of Racing continually monitors developments in the Australian and international racing industry to provide current and accurate advice to Government on emerging trends.
At the Office of Racing, we play a key role in assessing the potential impacts of changes to interstate racing legislation.
We aim to provide a responsive regulatory framework that meets the needs of a contemporary racing industry. This is an ongoing strategic business priority and we will continue to develop responses throughout 2008–09 to address implications arising from interstate developments.
Business priority
Provide investigative and analytical services to control bodies.
- Maintaining public confidence
The Office of Racing ensures public confidence in the integrity of the racing industry by providing high-quality analytical services such as testing animal samples for prohibited substances at the Racing Science Centre.
The Racing Science Centre analyses in excess of 14,900 samples every year taken from licensed animals.
Throughout 2008–09, the Office of Racing will continue to work with the control bodies by providing and enhancing a range of drug-control services. We will also continue to provide advice on drug control and animal welfare issues.
Maintaining integrity and confidence in racing
Staff of the Racing Science Centre help maintain the integrity of Queensland’s racing industry.
Racing plays an important role in Queensland’s cultural life and in our economy. To maintain community confidence, punters must be able to rely on the integrity of the races they bet on.
The Racing Science Centre is at the core of integrity for the Queensland racing industry.
Established in 1987, the Centre provides a broad range of scientific and professional services to the Queensland racing industry, including drug control, animal welfare, emergency animal disease management and associated integrity services. The Centre is internationally accredited as a testing centre by the National Association of Testing Authorities.
While the Centre’s direct clients are the three codes of the Queensland racing industry – thoroughbred, harness and greyhound racing – all Queenslanders ultimately benefit from an industry that follows the highest standards of integrity.
Last reviewed 5 November 2008
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