Clarity needed on Queensland Racing Limited's TAB grab plan
Bart Sinclair From: The Sunday Mail (Qld) March 27, 2010 11:00PM THE Queensland Government surely should at least give a public statement on Queensland Racing Limited chairman Bob Bentley's model where he has a target to assume effective majority ownership of all TAB clubs.
Bentley, to his credit, has openly declared his plan.
But it's a tad rich when he controls the purse strings and therefore can starve any club of funds and then unashamedly point the finger if their balance sheet starts to look a bit pale.
The Gold Coast is a classic example of the use (or abuse) of the powers of the control body (QRL).
With more than 700 horses in training at the Coast, it is a critical hub in the production line of runners at TAB meetings in southeast Queensland.
A few years ago, QRL grabbed all the money directed from UNiTAB to the race clubs as part of the product agreement.
The betting commission income is now handed out by QRL. Part of the charter of the control body is to make sure training facilities are adequate, particularly at such an important centre as the Gold Coast.
It is incumbent on the QRL to support training facilities.
Some clubs are well run, some are not. But all are currently working in an unfair atmosphere.
The State Government should be open and accountable. If they support QRL's land grab, at least be honest enough and say it. Don't hide behind a shield of "it's nothing to do with us".
Racing Minister Peter Lawlor should put his stance on the table and explain his reasoning.
The LNP hierarchy seems to be waking from its slumber in racing.
There were a lot of animated phone calls around key racing centres in recent days.
