Author Topic: Victoria's New Integrity Laws (Read 2237 times)

Arsenal · O.P. « 2018-Jun-19, 06:37 PM »

Moves to strengthen racing's integrity

Andrew Eddy@fastisheddy
4:27pm

The upcoming Aquanita appeals could be the final major racing appeal to be re-heard by the Victorian Civil and Administrative Tribunal following a move in Victorian Parliament on Tuesday to establish new integrity bodies to sit across all three racing codes.

A bill was introduced to parliament on Tuesday to create the Victorian Racing Integrity Board and the Victorian Racing Tribunal, with the Minister for Racing Martin Pakula saying the cross-code approach to integrity - incorporating horse racing, harness racing and greyhound racing - would provide the right pathway for the future.

"We're making sure that racing has an integrity regime and an appeals process which is modern, robust and fair," Pakula said.

"The new cross-code integrity board will ensure stewards have greater independence and an increased ability to ensure that those who do the wrong thing are held accountable."

The creation of both bodies will also spell the end of thoroughbred racing's current judiciary body - the Racing Appeals and Disciplinary Board, which has been hamstrung in past inquiries by its inability to compel people to attend hearings or to give evidence.

It is understood only racing appeals on points of law will be directed to VCAT in future. VCAT will no longer re-hear evidence and be confined to making rulings on interpretations of law.

The Victorian Racing Tribunal - to be headed by a current or former judicial officer - is expected to have a range of powers, including the authority to compel a person to attend a hearing to give evidence or to take evidence under oath.

In the Aquanita case, a number of those participants charged refused to co-operate or speak about the matter before the RAD Board.

The new bill could see the addition of a new offence - for those who fail to comply with a summons, for those who deliberately provide misleading information and for those who refuse to be sworn in for testimony.

The Racing Amendment (Integrity and Disciplinary Structures) Bill 2018 is also expected to play a role in strengthening the Racing Integrity Commissioner's Board of Inquiry powers.

The Victorian Racing Integrity Board will help oversee the relationships between the controlling bodies in racing and their integrity staff, making sure the senior executives at Racing Victoria, Greyhound Racing Victoria and Harness Racing Victoria can operate independently from commercial considerations.

The board will also ensure it has the power to look into complaints made by board members, integrity managers, or the Chief and Deputy Chief Steward, with the scope to direct controlling bodies to provide information or to take action in specific instances.

RV chief executive Giles Thompson said: "We welcome the Racing Amendment (Integrity and Disciplinary Structures) Bill that has been tabled within the Victorian Parliament today and see the changes as enhancements for Racing Victoria in our ongoing role of administering the Rules of Racing and protecting the integrity of Victorian racing.

"The Government have actively consulted on the best outcome for the three codes of racing in this state and we believe they have struck the right balance with the introduction of the Victorian Racing Integrity Board which will ensure that the integrity of the Victorian racing industry remains paramount.

"The Victorian Racing Tribunal will enhance and streamline the disciplinary and appeals process which is in the best interests of all stakeholders. ENDS

Not quite based on the QRIC model but what to make of this statement.....The Victorian Racing Integrity Board will help oversee the relationships between the controlling bodies in racing and their integrity staff, making sure the senior executives at Racing Victoria, Greyhound Racing Victoria and Harness Racing Victoria can operate independently from commercial considerations......seems about face it's the stewards who operate independently of commercial considerations.

Giddy Up

Peter Mair · « 2018-Jun-19, 07:14 PM **Reply #1** »

Some participants are rebelling and revolting

................ nothing beats participants voluntarily complying with the rules because they respect the system.

RVL seems to have contrived a situation where some prominent participants are not respecting the system.

It is not hard to understand why.

Rough, random result, racing is inherently unfair -- to everyone!

The standoff has seen a raft of unseemly episodes of conflict -- that needs to be arrested, preferably dealt with sensitively.

This new initiative has the colour of getting a bigger hammer when there is a tough nut to crack.

It is unlikely to be the right way to go to fix the problems in Victoria.

Can someone be compelled to give evidence that would incriminate them?

wily ole dog · « 2018-Jun-19, 07:22 PM **Reply #2** »

Great to see that Vic racing knows that peter Mair has no integrity

PoisonPen7 · « 2018-Jun-20, 07:40 AM **Reply #3** »

Quote from: Arsenal on 2018-Jun-19, 06:37 PM

Not quite based on the QRIC model but what to make of this statement.....The Victorian Racing Integrity Board will help oversee the relationships between the controlling bodies in racing and their integrity staff, making sure the senior executives at Racing Victoria, Greyhound Racing Victoria and Harness Racing Victoria can operate independently from commercial considerations......seems about face it's the stewards who operate independently of commercial considerations.

Giddy Up

Well picked up.

So if this is to ensure that senior execs at RV, GRV and HRV operate "independently" - it kinda implies they have been doing the wrong thing up until now?

The explosion of "integrity" bodies in Qld and Victoria are empowerment exercises with the "winners" being the ones who end up being paid more money (and delivered more power) when the dust settles.

Ask yourself this question. Are there integrity issues existent in Qld and Vic that weren't there (say) 20 years ago? I would put it to people the answer to that question is NO.

What is different is the voice people are given on social media.

Next thing things are grossly overstated and propagated on social media with all the sentence parsing that comes with that.

Politicians love it because it gives them an opportunity to stick their "uninformed noses" into the trough and come out saying something like "there is an integrity problem and I'm going to fix it. Vote for me.".

And it is not just racing. "Empowerment" is happening everywhere and across all society and those gaining materiel benefit don't care who they bring down in their insatiable quest for wealth and power.

Arsenal · « 2018-Jun-20, 09:41 AM **Reply #4** »

You made some good obsevations PP7 .......in answer to the query from PM "Can someone be compelled to give evidence that would incriminate them?" this isn't the USA with their fifth amendment rights...failure to answer truthfully brings the charge of perjury into play ..despite that anecdotal evidence is that people lie in court every day ...failure to answer a question could amount to contempt of court and time in chokey is a possibility.,,,,,,have to wait and see what the media makes of the new laws once they become law.

Giddy Up

HarmersHaven · « 2018-Jun-21, 10:22 AM **Reply #5** »

We already have bodies here that force you to tell the truth (incriminating or not) or face dire consequences.

You can admit to murder during these hearings and they can’t get you for it. If however, they can piece things together aside from the details of your hearing, you’re gone.

Author Topic: Victoria's New Integrity Laws (Read 2237 times)

Arsenal

Peter Mair

wily ole dog

PoisonPen7

Arsenal

HarmersHaven