Minister of Racing supports decision to withhold funds for Brisbane racing club after CEO accused of rape

Queensland’s Racing Minister backed the decision to withhold hundreds of thousands of dollars in funding from Brisbane’s top racing club after refusing to step down from its CEO, who was accused of rape.

Key points:

• Racing Minister Grace Grace said she had previously asked Racing Queensland to direct APHRC to step down from Mr Steele as CEO until the matter was resolved.
• He said the club board had ignored the directive and challenged its legitimacy
• Racing Queensland has withheld general fund payments from the club totaling around $600,000

Scott Steele, chief executive of Albion Park Harness Racing Club (APHRC), last month committed to trial in District Court on two counts of sexual assault and one rape for offenses allegedly committed in 2015 and 2016.

He opposes the accusations.

Yesterday Racing Minister Grace Grace said she had previously asked Racing Queensland (RQ) to direct APHRC to step down Mr Steele as CEO until the matter was resolved, but the club’s board has ignored the directive and challenged its legitimacy in Queensland Civil and Administration. Court (QCAT).

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In a further statement released to the ABC, Grace said, “because the APHRC has refused to follow RQ’s directive, which was issued on 1 September 2021, Racing Queensland has withheld a general fund payment from the club totaling approximately $600,000”.

“The APHRC has not yet been issued with a new funding agreement for the 2022/23 fiscal year,” he said.

“While the club failed to follow the directives issued by RQ, I fully support this pay cut.

“As a minister I do not have the power to dismiss a member of staff of a private racing club, however I think it is absolutely inappropriate for the CEO of APHRC to remain in his position while facing serious criminal charges.”

Both parties – the club and RQ – appeared before QCAT in March and the court defended its decision, Grace said.

An APHRC spokesman said: “One of the reasons we were in mediation prior to QCAT was funding cuts”.

He also said that on Tuesday the club board directed Mr Steele to work from home while the situation was reviewed.

Steele’s brother, Brad Steele, is chairman of the APHRC and has “resigned from all discussion and decision making regarding this matter,” an earlier statement from the board stated.

“As soon as we heard the allegations, the board initiated an independent external investigation by an experienced female attorney. The attorney interviewed Mr Steele and 19 of our 20 staff,” it read.

“The chairman and director have no say in the appointment of investigators and no say in the findings. We didn’t see it before it was presented to us in its final form – it was completely independent.

“The board has ensured that there are no conflicting interests, and that we have, and appear to have, upheld best practice in this difficult situation.”

The statement said investigators’ findings included that employees were “comfortable with the continuation of Mr Steele’s work” and “this will be affected by the club’s level of support for Mr Steele, and Mr Steele continues to protest his innocence”.

The recommendations include taking “reasonable steps to ensure that employees feel comfortable and safe working with Mr Steele”.

“It would be advisable to continue current practice which prohibits Mr Steele from having face-to-face meetings with any woman, or closed-door discussions,” the statement said.

“A sexual harassment policy must be implemented and training carried out.”

The statement said the allegations referred to an incident that allegedly occurred at a previous work site.

Steele’s lawyer, Daniel Hannay, said the charges were still being debated and prosecutors had not yet filed charges with the District Court.

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