Cover image courtesy of Racing Queensland
Kim Kelly, the deputy commissioner of the Queensland Racing Integrity Commission, tendered his resignation from the organisation on Friday morning, citing the QRIC’s loss of independence under the government’s reform to all three racing codes as reasons for his deputy.
Kelly, who spent 14 years as Chief Stipendiary Steward of the Hong Kong Jockey Club, has served in the role since September 2024 and officially took the deputy position in March 2025. He began his stewarding career with the Queensland Turf Club in 1985 and completed his cadetship in 1990, serving the state for five years before moving to Sydney and then Hong Kong. He has been a member of and chaired several committees in the International Federation of Horseracing Authorities for the past decade.
The Next Lap plan released at the end of 2025 features several changes to the current organisational structure of Racing Queensland and the QRIC, and it is Kelly’s view that these changes will compromise the independence of the sport’s integrity.
Kim Kelly | Image courtesy of Asian Racing Conference
"A long career of regulating racing has given me a good understanding of what good regulation looks like and conversely what bad regulation looks like,” Kelly told racenet.com.au on Friday morning upon the announcement of his resignation.
"It has given me a good knowledge of what real independence means and what aesthetic independence looks like. It has also given me an understanding of what proper governance is.
"Those values and principles around integrity, independence and governance aren't tradeable commodities to be picked up or set aside to suit a circumstance." - Kim Kelly
"Those values and principles around integrity, independence and governance aren't tradeable commodities to be picked up or set aside to suit a circumstance. It isn't a selective menu.”
Not what he signed up for
“I'm disappointed," said Kelly. "I signed up to the model of a true independent QRIC, and what is proposed and what the government has agreed to is not what I signed up to.”
"What is proposed and what the government has agreed to is not what I signed up to." - Kim Kelly
The Queensland government wholly accepted 79 of the 110 recommendations made in The Next Lap plan, including the adoption of a “hybrid organisational model” where Racing Queensland and the QRIC will have “shared day-to-day services”. The independent Commissioner of Stewards will report directly to the Minister for Racing, while also engaging with the Racing Queensland board.
The new-look QRIC will include a management role overseeing wagering integrity, and the government has committed to a thorough review of the Racing Act 2002 and Racing Integrity Act 2016. Nine recommendations mentioning QRIC were accepted by the government amongst a total of 22 recommendations on integrity, with the remainder concerning swabbing, remote stewarding, and welfare policies across all three codes.
The crux of the matter for Kelly is the transfer of QRIC’s corporate functions to Racing Queensland.
“Under the new model, it would be for the regulatory body (QRIC) to have a dependence on the commercial body (RQ) in respect of decisions which are made regarding… all business services,” he said.
"The antithesis of independence is dependence. The industry needs to have confidence that regulatory decisions won't be affected by commercial interests.”
"The antithesis of independence is dependence." - Kim Kelly
Kelly told media outlets that the first time the QRIC staff heard about the changes was when the report itself was released, and there had been little consultation beforehand.
It is these clashes that have led Kelly to believe the best cause of action is to step away from the industry. He has not written off returning to the industry in some capacity in the future, but indicated it was unlikely.
“I think this is probably just about the end of the road (for me),” he said.
A loss to the industry
Following the story’s announcement by media outlets on Friday morning, there was a unified reaction to Kelly’s resignation. Brisbane Racing Club chairman Richard Morrison called it a “massive loss” to the Queensland racing community.
"Kim Kelly is among the world's most respected authorities on racing integrity,” he said. "Kim's background and depth of experience make him a very hard person to replace. He recently chaired the integrity panel at the Asian Racing Conference, which speaks to the regard in which he is held internationally.
Richard Morrison | Image courtesy of Trackside Photography
"His value to Queensland is probably best judged by the fact that during his time there was less controversy about QRIC itself than at any other time in its existence, at least in the thoroughbred world where we operate."
"His (Kelly's) value to Queensland is probably best judged by the fact that during his time there was less controversy about QRIC itself than at any other time in its existence." - Richard Morrison
“Kim is straight up and down - he wouldn’t stand for blurred directives from above,” said respected bloodstock entity Anthony Williams on X. “Sad that the industry is losing a decent person with personal integrity and racing knowledge.”
Acting RQ chief executive Lachlan Murray thanked Kelly for his services to the state’s three racing codes.
“On behalf of Racing Queensland, I'd like to acknowledge and thank Kim Kelly for his tireless service and dedication to the Queensland racing industry over the last two and a half years,” he said.
"In that time, he's led and delivered significant reform across the industry, and we wish him all the best in what's next."
Streamlining governance
The Next Lap plan was delivered at the end of an independent review of the industry’s three codes completed by former Australian Turf Club director Matthew McGrath, who was subsequently elected to the position of Racing Queensland chairman in March.
The Next Lap itself calls it a streamlining of the two bodies who currently have vast differences in how they operate on an administrative level.
“The current arrangements between Racing Queensland (RQ) and the Queensland Racing Integrity Commission (QRIC) have served an important purpose in supporting the state’s racing industry and ensuring integrity across the three codes,” reads The Next Lap.
Matthew McGrath | Image courtesy of Australian Turf Club
“However, these arrangements have also created overlap in certain functions and vulnerabilities in others. Different data collections, varying reporting periods, and administrative responsibilities shared across two departments have led to inefficiencies and inconsistencies.
“The Queensland Government will facilitate a move to a modernised structure that provides clearer lines of accountability, reduces duplication and strengthens coordination across the industry.”
The strategy outline assures that stewarding and integrity will remain solely the purview of the QRIC, while Racing Queensland will take responsibility for operational support. This will in theory leave more resources available to be concentrated on swabbing and wagering integrity.
"The Queensland racing industry will continue to thrive on a transparent and resilient foundation of integrity." - The Next Lap
“Through strengthened oversight, modernised systems, and the highest standards of governance, the Queensland racing industry will continue to thrive on a transparent and resilient foundation of integrity,” the report said.
TTR reached out to the office of Queensland Racing Minister Tim Mander, who recently returned to the role after an Australian Federal Police investigation determined that allegations of electoral fraud were unfounded, for comment, but received no reply at the time of writing.
Tim Mander | Image courtesy of Tim Mander
A spokesperson for Mander shared a statement with racenet.com.au saying, "we thank Mr Kelly for his service to the racing industry in Queensland. The Crisafulli Government is committed to maintaining the highest levels of integrity in the racing industry.
"The independent Racing Review made recommendations on streamlining governance in Queensland Racing to improve decision making and reduce operational duplication following overwhelming feedback."
