The CMC should investigate the threat by Queensland Racing Limited Chairman Bob Bentley to cut funding to the Brisbane Turf Club because of its failure to back a merger with the Queensland Turf Club which operates the nearby Eagle Farm facility.The BTC operates the highly-successful Doomben racetrack and the members of the BTC have voted democratically to protect the interests of their club.
Bob Bentley immediately stepped in to the fray, threatening to withdraw $1 million of annual funding to the club as part of his grand plan to have only one racing club in Brisbane.
He is entitled to his opinion and he might be correct in his views regarding the benefits of a merger but it is outrageous to threaten a club's financial viability because the members have simply exercised their democratic right to vote against such a merger.
BTC Chairwoman Mary Collier should hotfoot it down to CMC Headquarters and lodge an official complaint against Queensland Racing Limited for making such dire threats.
If a Premier, Department Head or other government official made such threats, there would be calls for their immediate sacking and for a full CMC inquiry into the legality of their actions.
