Queensland’s Racing Minister has described Albion Park Harness Racing Club’s refusal to stand down its CEO as “completely inappropriate”. 

The Ray Hadley Morning Show has this morning revealed Scott Steele has been been committed to stand trial on two charges of sexual assault and one charge of rape.

It’s alleged Mr Steele committed the offences in 2015 and 2016, several years before he took up his current role with Albion Park Racing Club in 2020.

In a statement provided to Ray Hadley, Grace Grace said while she doesn’t have the power to stand down staff members of private clubs, she disagrees with Mr Steele retaining his position.

“I think it is completely inappropriate for the Albion Park Harness Racing Club CEO to remain in his post while facing serious criminal charges,” she wrote (see the full statement below). 

Press PLAY below to hear Ray Hadley react to the Racing Minister’s statement in full 

Read the full statement provided by Racing Minister Grace Grace below: 

“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 Albion Park Harness Racing Club CEO to remain in his post while facing serious criminal charges.

“Racing Queensland has issued a direction to the Club to stand him down from his post and this action is in keeping with my expectations as Minister.

“However, the validity of this direction has been challenged by the Albion Park Harness Racing Club and is currently before the Queensland Civil and Administrative Tribunal.“

Tim Mander, the shadow minister for racing, also condemned the club’s choice not to stand down Mr Steele.

“These aren’t minor charges, they are very, very serious charges and I am totally shocked that the [Albion Park] Harness Club has not stood him down,” he told Ray Hadley.

“It [would] be a clear signal that the club treats these charges very, very seriously.

“It’s an incredibly puzzling decision; I just cannot understand that.”

Press PLAY below to hear the shadow minister’s response in full 

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