The State Government recently announced the establishment of the Victorian Racing Integrity Board and the Victorian Racing Tribunal both of which came into effect August 1.

The Victorian Racing Integrity Board will have a broad range of functions across the three codes – thoroughbred, harness and greyhound – including endorsing annual integrity plans, providing recommendations on integrity budgets, policies and licensing, and considering proposed amendments to the rules of racing.

Board members include some of the most qualified legal and racing figures in Australia, led by Chairperson Jack Forrest, who previously held the position of principal judge of the common-law division of the Supreme Court.

The Chairperson will be supported by three Deputy Chairpersons – barrister and former Family Court judge Peter Young QC, former Racing Victoria head of integrity Dayle Brown and magistrate Jacqueline Billings.

There are five general members of the board: Brian Gurry, Hayden Opie, Kate Savage, Amelia Lynch and John Barrett.

The new tribunal has been established to enhance and streamline the disciplinary and appeals process for thoroughbred, harness and greyhound racing.

It will hear and determine serious charges made against licensed persons by controlling bodies and stewards.

The Victorian Racing Tribunal will also oversee the hearing and determination of a broad range of appeals, including those relating to penalties imposed by controlling bodies.

The tribunal comprises some of the most experienced legal professionals in Victoria, led by chairperson Judge John Bowman, who has sat on the County Court of Victoria since 2001.

Judge Bowman will work with three deputy chairpersons and 12 other tribunal members, including former County Court judges Graeme Hicks and Julie Nicholson, magistrate John Doherty and former lead financial ombudsman Dr June Smith.

Victorian Civil and Administrative Tribunal vice-president Judge Marilyn Harbison and chair of Greyhound Racing Victoria’s Racing Appeals and Disciplinary Board and former Federal Court judge Shane Marshall will join ex-thoroughbred racing chairman of stewards Des Gleeson on the tribunal, along with retired jockeys Maree Payne and Greg Childs.

Other tribunal members are Robert Abrahams, Josh Bornstein, Judy Bourke, Heidi Keighran, Amanda Upton and Andrew Gould.