Horan’s comments irresponsible

10 October 2008

Queensland Racing Limited (QRL) chairman Mr Bob Bentley today responded to the statements made by the Member for Toowoomba South, Mr Mike Horan in Parliament yesterday. 

“Mr Horan made completely irresponsible comments that serve no purpose other than to harm the progress of the Queensland Racing industry, an industry which he is supposed to be supporting,” Mr Bentley said.

“Even a cursory review of those comments shows how irresponsible and inaccurate they are.”

Mr Bentley referred to Mr Horan’s comments and responded to each in turn:

Mr Horan said “….the special general meeting that QRL had to extend its tenure to 2018 with only one election in the intervening time”

“This is completely incorrect.  Neither the purpose nor effect of the constitutional amendment passed at the General Meeting was to extend tenure in that way,” Mr Bentley said.

Mr Horan said “Members of the Queensland Country Racing Committee were not advised that the special general meeting was on, were not advised of its content and were not advised of the change in the proxy arrangements.”

“This is completely incorrect.  The Committee was provided with full notice of the General Meeting in accordance with the constitution and indeed member representatives of that Committee, Mr Brosnan on one occasion, and Mr Peoples on numerous occasions, had telephone conversations with QRL Legal Counsel/Company Secretary about the nature of the meeting prior to it occurring,” Mr Bentley said.

Mr Horan said “They (Queensland Country Racing Committee) had not made a decision about how they wanted to vote.  They had not made a decision about where their proxy vote should go.”

“QRL provided full notice to the Committee, and delegates of that Committee were provided with ample time to make a decision and request a meeting and seek details as to how to exercise their vote,”
Mr Bentley said.

Mr Horan said “….the proxy system is unconstitutional.  The constitution says that you can be there in person or by proxy……There was an edict that went out that everyone had to send in a proxy.  Consequently the Chairman of the Townsville Turf Club who was put forward by his Board to there as their person in attendance and to vote was barred at the door from going in and voting.”

“This statement is incorrect in that the proxy system is required by the constitution,” Mr Bentley said. 

“The constitution requires that the proxy must be delivered to QRL more than 48 hours before the meeting. 

“The Townsville Turf Club failed to provide a proxy in the time frame required by the constitution and therefore the Club could not exercise a vote.  The Townsville Turf Club were contacted on three occasions in relation to the matter and a follow up telephone call was made half an hour before the deadline and they still failed to comply.  As a result of non-compliance, the chairman of the Townsville Turf Club, Mr Allan Parry was denied entry into the meeting in accordance with the constitution.”

Mr Horan said “….a number of the organisations making up the shareholding group that had to vote did not have formal meetings at which to decide which way they would vote and if they were going to have a proxy who they would give it to.  It appears individuals took it upon themselves to do that.”

“QRL’s role was to ensure that those proxies that were received were properly executed,” Mr Bentley said. 

“QRL was not, and cannot be, responsible for policing the internal constitutional requirements of the various shareholders.”

Mr Horan said QRL “….is under investigation at this moment for denying the Queensland Country Racing Committee a vote, for denying them any knowledge of the special general meeting and for denying them the opportunity to decide which way they would vote…”

“This statement is incorrect.  ASIC has advised that there is no investigation underway,” Mr Bentley said.

Mr Horan said “How can the Minister allow for an organise like Queensland Racing Ltd, which is under investigation at this moment for denying the Queensland Country Racing Committee a vote, for denying them any knowledge of the special general meeting and for denying them the opportunity to decide which way they would vote, to hold this forum?”

“The final comment by Mr Horan, Member for Toowoomba South is testament to the damage that he, as a LNP spokesman for racing, is doing to country racing,” Mr Bentley said. 

“To suggest in ‘Cowards Castle’, that the Country Racing Forum should not be held, is irresponsible in the extreme. 

“The comment shows just how out of touch Mr Horan is with the racing world.  The Forum is to correct the mess in which his mates left country racing, in the 2007/2008 racing year.”

“This is nothing more than scaremongering and using country racing for political purposes by Mr Horan. 

“The time to form a view is subsequent to the outcomes of the Country Racing Forum.”

For further information please contact QRL chairman Mr Bob Bentley on 0419 964 210.