Who does the Tasmanian Racing Integrity Commissioner report to?The Racing Regulation and Integrity Act 2024 (RRI Act) establishes the Tasmanian Racing Integrity Commissioner to oversee and assure integrity and animal welfare in the Tasmanian racing industry.
The Commissioner reports to Parliament through the Minister for Racing.
The Commissioner provides an annual report to the Minister on the performance of his functions or the exercise of his powers.
The Commissioner is supported in an administrative capacity by the Department of Natural Resources and Environment Tasmania.
Who can provide information or lodge a complaint to the Commissioner?
The Commissioner welcomes the reporting of integrity related information from any person, whether a member of the public or members of the racing industry.
What will the Commissioner investigate?
The Commissioner can investigate any matter relating to racing, including matters relating to integrity in racing and animal welfare. For example, the Commissioner may investigate:
Complaints relating to the processes and systems used by Tasracing and racing clubs to assure integrity and welfare in Tasmanian racing
Complaints about the conduct of employees, officers, or other personnel engaged by Tasracing (as the controlling body for racing in Tasmania) or others to assure integrity and welfare in Tasmanian racing
Complaints about systemic integrity and welfare issues in racing
Complaints referred to the Commissioner by the Minister for Racing
Complaints referred to the Commissioner by other authorities, such as the Integrity Commission
What won’t the Commissioner investigate?
The Commissioner will not investigate a matter if the matter is the subject of, or the investigation would prejudice:
The Commissioner will not investigate service issues, which include administrative errors and slow response times.
The Commissioner cannot determine legal rights, claims, or remedies – and the Commissioner is not an appeals or review body. In particular, the Commissioner cannot deal with complaints about:
Determinations made in stewards’ enquiries
Determinations that are appealable to the Tasmanian Racing Appeal Board (see in particular sections 76 and 77 of the RRI Act)
Decisions of the Tasmanian Racing Appeal Board
Commercial or contractual disputes
When will investigations be conducted?
The Commissioner may decide to conduct an investigation if the complaint:
Cannot be resolved informally
Is serious
Raises systemic issues with broad implications
Has not already been investigated
Is otherwise in the interest of the Tasmanian racing industry or in the interest of the public
The Commissioner may give notice of the intention to investigate a matter to the complainant, and to the person or body that is the subject of the investigation.
When won’t investigations be conducted?
If the Commissioner considers that a complaint should be investigated by another authority, then the Commissioner is free to refer the matter to it. This may happen if the complaint relates, for example, to:
Contravention of the Rules of Racing
Contravention of legislation
A criminal matter
Corrupt conduct
An internal integrity matter, such as an employment matter
Once a complaint has been referred to another authority, that authority will be responsible for how it is handled. The Commissioner will attempt to monitor how it is handled to identify issues and improvements to processes and systems, including by requesting information about actions taken.
The Commissioner may also refer a matter that has been raised during the course of an investigation.
The Commissioner may also refuse to investigate a matter, including when:
It is being handled, or has been handled, by another authority
The complaint is frivolous, vexatious, lacking in substance, or was not raised in good faith
What happens to the information I provide to the Commissioner?
Any integrity related information provided to the Commissioner will be treated in the strictest confidence and will be handled accordingly.
The Commissioner seeks to ensure that all integrity issues raised are investigated in a proper and thorough manner.
However, sometimes it may be appropriate to pass the information provided (or part of the information) on to another agency more relevant to investigate the matter.
