Queensland's Racing Minister is backing a decision to withhold hundreds of thousands of dollars in funding from a leading Brisbane race club after it refused to stand down its CEO, who has been accused of rape.
Scott Steele, the chief executive of the Albion Park Harness Racing Club (APHRC), was last month committed to stand trial in the District Court on two counts of sexual assault and one of rape for offences allegedly committed in 2015 and 2016.
He is contesting the charges.
Yesterday Racing Minister Grace Grace said she previously asked Racing Queensland (RQ) to direct the APHRC to stand down Mr Steele as CEO until the matter was finalised, but the club's board had ignored the direction and was challenging its lawfulness in the Queensland Civil and Administrative Tribunal (QCAT).
In a further statement released to the ABC, Ms Grace said, "since the APHRC has refused to follow RQ's direction, issued on September 1, 2021, Racing Queensland has withheld general funding payments from the club that amount to about $600,000".
"APHRC has not been issued with a new funding agreement for the 2022/23 financial year," she said.
"While the club fails to follow the direction issued by RQ, I fully support these payments being withheld.
"As minister I do not have the power to stand down staff members of private racing clubs, however I think it is completely inappropriate for the APHRC CEO to remain in his post while facing serious criminal charges."
Both parties – the club and RQ – appeared before QCAT in March and the tribunal reserved its decision, Ms Grace said.
An APHRC spokesman said: "One of the reasons we are in mediation before QCAT is the withholding of funding".
He also said that on Tuesday the club's board directed Mr Steele to work from home while the situation was reviewed.
Mr Steele's brother, Brad Steele, is the chairman of the APHRC and has "recused himself of all discussion and decision-making in relation to this matter," a previous statement from the board stated.
"As soon as we heard of the charges the board commenced an independent external investigation by an experienced female lawyer. That lawyer interviewed Mr Steele and 19 of our 20 staff," it read.
"The Chairman and directors had no say in the appointment of the investigator and no say in the findings. We did not see it before it was presented to us in final form – it was completely independent.
"The Board has ensured there is no conflicting interests, and that we have, and been seen to have, upheld best practice in these difficult situations."
The statement said the investigator's findings included that employees are "comfortable with Mr Steele's continued employment" and "this will be influenced by the level of club support for Mr Steele, and Mr Steele continuing to protest his innocence".
The recommendations included taking "reasonable steps to ensure that employees feel comfortable and safe working with Mr Steele".
"It would be advisable to continue the current practice that forbids Mr Steele having one-on-one meetings with any females, or closed-door discussions," the statement said.
"A sexual harassment policy should be implemented and training conducted."
The statement said the allegations refer to incidents that allegedly took place in previous work locations.
Mr Steele's solicitor, Daniel Hannay, said the charges remain contested and prosecutors have not yet presented the indictment to the District Court.
