CALLS FOR THE ENTIRE QR BOARD TO STAND FOR RE-ELECTION
THERE are calls for a controversial Queensland Racing Board election process to be put on hold pending the outcome of a major legal challenge.
Lawyer Bill Andrews, one of five QR Limited directors, is taking civil action after failing to even make the short-list for reappointment to the Board.
Mr Andrews has alleged manipulation of the appointment process for two new directors and has implicated Queensland Racing chairman, Bob Bentley, in documents lodged with the Supreme Court.
There are widespread calls from within the Queensland racing industry this morning for the Government to intervene and order the Board election process to be put on hold pending the outcome of the court action.
Racing Minister Peter Lawlor continues to draw strong criticism for failing to get involved from those opposed to the selection process. The critics are also concerned by stories doing the rounds in racing circles that Opposition Racing Spokesman, Ray Stevens, has been told by Liberal Party heavies not to force the issue in Parliament.
Whilst not too many club officials or industry stakeholders are prepared to speak out publicly against Queensland Racing or chairman Bentley, there is a groundswell of opinion behind the scenes that if Mr Andrews wins his court battle the entire Board should be forced to stand for re-election.
INDEPENDENCE QUESTIONED AFTER PRIVATE RACETRACK CONVERSATION
In today’s Brisbane Courier-Mail, journalist Michael Crutcher reports that the documents include references to a private racetrack conversation allegedly held by Mr Bentley that raised questions over the independence of the appointment process.
The report reads: The legal action also claims high-profile businessman Dick McGruther was interviewed for a board position and asked what school he attended and whether he was a ‘practising Catholic’.
Mr Andrews was up for re-election after four years on the QRL board but he was not included on a four-person shortlist that the QRL constitution decrees must be drawn up by an ‘independent recruitment consultant’.
Northern Recruitment has been accused of improperly drawing up the shortlist to satisfy alleged orders given by QRL.
The court documents allege two of the four people on the shortlist, Neville Stewart and Wayne Milner, are not eligible for election because they were committee members of licensed clubs at the time of nomination.
The election is continuing.
The court action could make for an intriguing QRL board meeting on Friday when Mr Andrews, whose term does not finish until November, sits across from Mr Bentley.
According to the court documents, Mr Bentley allegedly told Thoroughbred Breeders’ Queensland Association president, Bob Frappell, during a race-day luncheon that he ‘wanted the shortlist to include candidates with race club experience as well as some financial accounting background’.
In the court documents, Mr Andrews demanded the election be put on hold and requested costs be paid.
Mr Andrews yesterday said he would not comment on the action. A lawyer acting on behalf of QRL said the action would be vigorously defended.
Northern Recruitment has refused to discuss the election with The Courier-Mail.’
