By Mark Ainsworth APM, Acting Queensland Racing Integrity Commissioner

From fines issued by the Queensland Racing Integrity Commission, the Queensland Government is owed almost $250,000 in outstanding debt from racing industry participants who have ignored their financial obligations to pay fines to the Commission after the Stewards have issued financial penalties for breaches of the rules of racing.

The Commission expends an unacceptable amount of time chasing down these debts and has now commenced a more stringent process against the licences of participants who fail to pay or to engage with the Commission to pay off their debt.

Those participants who have a debt with the Commission receive payment reminder notifications through their monthly account statements.

This is sufficient notification informing debtors that they owed money which they are obliged to pay, but far too many licensees are ignoring their financial obligations.

It is a condition of the Commission’s penalty standard and a condition of holding a licence with the Commission that all debts are paid within 30 days.

I have now instructed Commission staff to commence the process to suspend the licence of any outstanding debtor if a debt has not been payed or a payment plan has not been established.

The Commission wants to work with participants but this is a two way relationship, when racing participants are penalised with a fine, they must pay that fine or face further penalty, which includes their ability to hold a licence until their debt is paid.

If you believe this relates to you, contact the Commission at accountsreceivable@qric.qld.gov.au to discuss your debt.

How to pay: qric.qld.gov.au/payment-options