Qld: Inquiry told Bentley had strong ideas on racing industry

AAP General News (Australia)
04-07-2005
Qld: Inquiry told Bentley had strong ideas on racing industry

By John Sheed

BRISBANE, April 7 AAP - Queensland Racing chairman Bob Bentley had strong ideas about
how the state's racing industry should be run and there was no point in pushing alternatives,
an inquiry was told today.

Former chief executive officer Jeremy Turner told the Queensland Thoroughbred Racing
Inquiry, which is this week investigating staff turnover in Queensland Racing, that in
early 2003 Mr Bentley had given him a handwritten flow chart on how he wanted a restructure
to take place.

"I had some concerns because it was not the restructure I had envisaged," Mr Turner said.

He said his own ideas "bore no resemblance" to those of Mr Bentley but he later supported
the restructure when it was presented to the board and subsequently implemented.

"There was no point in me discussing my ideas with the chairman. He had his ideas,"

Mr Turner said while being cross-examined by Queensland Racing counsel Jim Murdoch.

Mr Murdoch asked why Mr Turner had not placed his concerns before the board.

"I was uneasy with some of the content but I was happy for it to go forward with my
name on it because I work for the chairman," Mr Turner said.

He said he had "battled around the edges" to get some minor changes "but at the end
of the day it was his structure that was going forward".

Earlier Mr Turner said because of Mr Bentley's aggressive attitude towards chief steward
Steve Railton it had become clear that Mr Bentley wanted him out of the industry.

Mr Railton was made redundant under the restructure.

"He had a very strong view that Mr Railton was not a very effective steward, that he
was soft and going after easy targets," Mr Turner said.

"It was clear to me Mr Bentley didn't want him in the organisation."

Mr Turner, whose own job was terminated in May 2004, said he did not agree with Mr
Bentley's views on Mr Railton.

"I found them very hard to reconcile because I have the view that Mr Railton was a
very efficient and hard-working steward."

The inquiry, in the Brisbane Magistrates Court, was expected to hear evidence from
Mr Railton tomorrow.

AAP jfs/sc/jnb/de e

KEYWORD: RACING QLD NIGHTLEAD

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