MR STEVENS ASKED THE MINISTER FOR TOURISM AND FAIR TRADING (MR LAWLOR)—
QUESTION:
With reference to the definitive statement in the public accounts of gaming company Tatts Ltd in relation to the conflict of interest of the Chairman of Queensland Racing—
Has the Minister sought advice from the Integrity Commissioner as to Mr Bentley’s role as Chairman of Queensland Racing?
ANSWER:
It is assumed that the document the Member refers to is the Tatts Group Limited 2009 Annual Report. The statement referred to the outcome of that company’s annual review into the independent status of the company’s directors. The statement reported that Mr Bentley was considered not to be an independent non-executive director as during the period he was also Chairman of Queensland Racing Limited, which controls a material supplier to UNiTAB Limited (namely Queensland Racing Limited).
Mr Bentley has been Chairman of Queensland Racing Limited (and its predecessor, the Queensland Thoroughbred Racing Board) since April 2002, and also been a non-executive director of the Tatts Board since 12 October 2006, previously having been appointed to the UNiTAB Board in July 1999.
Advice from the Integrity Commissioner as to Mr Bentley’s role as Chairman of Queensland Racing Limited, a non government entity, has not been sought.
