The Queensland Off-The-Track Board (QOTT Board) held its inaugural meeting last week.
The QOTT Board was established as a result of the Martin Inquiry report title ‘Inquiry into animal cruelty in the management of retired Thoroughbred and Standardbred horses in Queensland’.
The Queensland Government fully supported, or supported in principle, all 55 recommendations made by the Martin Inquiry, including the establishment of a Queensland Off-The-Track Program.
The QOTT Board has been established to operate and manage the QOTT Program and will serve as an independent decision-making body which will be responsible for all decisions, policies, programs and reporting relating to the retirement of horses from racing and breeding activities.
The Palaszczuk Government has appointed Sharon Cowden as the inaugural independent Chair of the QOTT Board.
Ms Cowden, who most recently served as the Australian Federal Police’s senior representative in South East Asia, spent over 35 years in the AFP, including when Commander in Charge of Queensland as the Chair of the Queensland Joint Management Group into Organised Crime.
The QOTT Board brings together a wealth of knowledge and experience from both inside and outside the racing industry. The directors are:
- Mr Brendan Parnell, Chief Executive Officer, Racing Queensland;
- Mr Ross Barnett, Commissioner, Queensland Racing Integrity Commission;
- Mr Basil Nolan, President, Thoroughbred Breeders Queensland Association;
- Dr Holly Lewis, President, Equine Veterinarians Australia;
- Mr Daren Garrard, President, BOTRA Queensland;
- Mr Kelly Schweida, Vice-President, Australian Trainers Association - QLD Branch;
- Mr Cameron Partington, Representative, Thoroughbred Alliance;
- Dr Mandy Paterson, Principal Scientist, RSPCA Queensland; and
- Ms Catherine Collier, Representative, Equestrian Queensland.
During its first meeting on December 17, the QOTT Board reviewed the Martin Inquiry recommendations within its remit relating to the establishment, design, funding, education and reporting of the QOTT Program.
Racing Minister Grace Grace said she welcomed the QOTT Board's establishment.
"It's great to see the Board hitting the ground running already, holding their first meeting last week," Ms Grace said.
"I look forward to hearing about policies and programs, particularly in relation to their review of the Martin Inquiry recommendations."
Ms Cowden said the QOTT Board reviewed the retraining and rehoming programs that exist in other Australian States and Internationally and would draw on the successful elements of those programs to establish the Queensland model.
“The QOTT Board is excited to be focusing on the important aftercare initiatives for Thoroughbred and Standardbred horses retiring from racing and breeding,” she said.
“We are looking forward with enthusiasm about the opportunity to create and deliver a successful Off-The-Track Program in Queensland.
“The QOTT Board is keen to move forward as quickly as we can and have committed to monthly meetings in the first quarter of 2021 to finalise the design of the program, ensure a strong framework is implemented and set our priorities for 2021.”