Almost a year after the ABC aired allegations of team driving and animal welfare concerns against the state’s largest harness racing stable, a report exploring the allegations is yet to be released. It has been a turbulent year for the Tasmanian Racing Industry, as it continues to sweat on the conclusions for Ray Murrihy’s review.
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00:00 It's been almost a year in the making. Ray Murrahy's review into Tasmanian harness racing
00:08 sparked by an ABC investigation in March last year.
00:12 Tonight, allegations of race fixing at Australia's biggest harness stable.
00:17 The investigation centred on Yol Racing, the nation's biggest harness racing stable, and
00:22 uncovered allegations of race manipulation, team driving and animal welfare concerns at
00:28 Ben Yol's Sidmouth property.
00:31 A former driver for Yol Racing has confirmed they were asked to team drive to advantage
00:37 their stable.
00:38 The reporting, which scrutinised a number of specific races and included testimony from
00:43 long-time industry participants, created a storm.
00:47 We haven't seen allegations like this in Tasmania for many, many, many years. In fact, we haven't
00:52 seen allegations like this across the country for many years.
00:55 The state's Office of Racing Integrity was also under the spotlight as other racing participants
01:01 came forward.
01:02 Why is an office who's chartered to uphold integrity scared of someone speaking about
01:09 integrity?
01:10 The government launched an independent inquiry in March, headed by integrity expert and respected
01:16 former steward Ray Murrahy. He went to work investigating seven terms of reference relating
01:22 to the functions of Orri, as well as specific allegations raised by the ABC's reporting.
01:28 It is clear to me, given recent media reporting, particularly on animal welfare issues, that
01:34 there is a need to do more. It is clear to me that decisive action and independent review
01:40 is a very good idea.
01:41 The Murrahy report was due in June, but the deadline was extended to late August. In July,
01:48 a cabinet reshuffle saw Madeleine Ogilvie stripped of the racing portfolio and replaced
01:53 by Felix Ellis. An interim report addressing only two of the seven terms of reference was
01:59 released in September. Then in December, the director of the Office of Racing Integrity,
02:05 Justin Helmick, stood down.
02:07 That was a month after the full report was handed to the government. It's yet to be
02:12 released.
02:13 Ben Yole has always strenuously denied all allegations made against his operation, describing
02:19 them as patently false. Ray Murrahy's report is expected to be made public in the coming
02:25 days.
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