Queensland To Bring Racing Integrity Watchdog Under One Authority
The Queensland Government has announced a new streamlined hybrid governance model that will see Racing Queensland (RQ) and the Queensland Racing Integrity Commission (QRIC) amalgamated, according to a statement published by Racing Queensland on September 23, 2026.
The reform is a key part of "The Next Lap," the state government's plan for the future of Queensland racing, and is designed to improve efficiency, sustainability and public confidence in the industry.
Independent Integrity Oversight Preserved
Despite the merger of functions, oversight of integrity and animal welfare matters will remain independent, with a new Chief Integrity Officer established within RQ.
The role will carry equal standing to RQ's Chief Executive Officer and will report directly to the Racing Minister, the RQ Board and a new integrity and animal welfare subcommittee.
"By amalgamating Racing Queensland and the Queensland Racing Integrity Commission and establishing a Chief Integrity Officer, we can maintain clear lines of accountability while reducing operational duplication," said Tim Mander, Queensland's Minister for Sport and Racing and Minister for the Olympic and Paralympic Games.
A $2.5 Billion Industry
Mander said the racing industry contributes more than $2.5 billion a year to the Queensland economy and supports around 14,000 jobs across the state. It's unclear if online betting sites are included.
"It's imperative that we have a progressive and efficient governance model in place to continue to grow the industry for communities throughout Queensland, while ensuring animal welfare is at the heart of all decision-making," he said.
The change follows earlier reform announcements dating back to December 2025, when the state government first flagged a hybrid model that would see QRIC's non-core functions transition to RQ while retaining the regulator's independent stewarding and integrity role.
Part Of A Longer Reform Process
The amalgamation builds on reform work that began in December 2025, when the Queensland Government first announced a hybrid model that would see QRIC's non-core functions transition to Racing Queensland while the commission retained its independent stewarding role.
A subsequent February 2026 statement outlined plans to modernise the RQ board, broadening it to include a representative from country racing and a member with dedicated integrity expertise.
Minister Mander has previously had to defend the hybrid approach amid criticism that aligning QRIC's functions more closely with RQ could blur the line between the industry's commercial operator and its integrity regulator.
Wednesday's announcement reiterates that stewarding and integrity decisions will continue to sit with the new Chief Integrity Officer role independently of RQ's commercial operations.
