Racing Queensland Limited has implemented a succession plan after the resignation of several senior executives as a result of the overwhelming success of the LNP in last Saturday’s Queensland State election.

Senior executives Mr Malcolm Tuttle (CEO), Mr Jamie Orchard (Director of Integrity Operations), Mr Paul Brennan (Director of Product Development) and Ms Shara Reid (Senior Corporate Counsel/Company Secretary) all tendered their resignations today.

RQL chairman Bob Bentley said that the board accepts the resignations with regret and laments at the loss of these hardworking executives to the industry.

“The executives have managed the industry through extremely difficult times with dedication and integrity and the loss of their corporate knowledge will be evident and sorely missed in the near future,” said Bentley.

“The uncertainty and speculation caused both directly and indirectly over the preceding 12 months has made a difficult and demanding job untenable. The fact that the RQL executives did not waiver in their loyalty and dedication to the industry is testament to their character as individuals.”

Bentley himself accepts the fact that his position as chairman of RQL is short lived under the new Government and a Ministerial Advisory Committee will be set up immediately to oversee the administering of racing in the State.

“I’ve made my position clear with the LNP policy,” Bentley said.

“It wouldn’t be fair for me to stay on anyway even if they didn’t change the legislation, but seeming they are going to, that makes it very clear.”

“There’s not going to be a ruckus as far as we’re concerned with the LNP. They have won and it’s up to them to do what they want to do.”

Bentley will still carry on his duties as Chairman of the Australian Racing Board and the Asian Racing Federation for which he is vice-chairman.