QRIC integrity boss Norm Torpey dumped for misconduct
IN worrying news for the nascent Queensland Racing Integrity Commission, integrity unit chief Norm Torpey has been permanently reassigned on grounds of misconduct.
Mr Torpey was stood aside in March amid allegations that he had failed to properly investigate an issue raised by a member of the public.
The incident at the heart of the case took place prior to the formation of the QRIC, which commenced operations in July 2016.
“Mr Torpey has been temporarily reassigned from his role as head of the Integrity Regulation Unit to the race day stewarding department while the complaint against him is investigated,” QRIC commissioner Ross Barnett said in March.
“The integrity of the Queensland Racing Industry is of the utmost importance to me and to the Commission, any complaints or issues that arise involving our staff are taken very seriously.
“The result of this investigation will be made public when it concludes, however, no further comment is appropriate at this stage.”
In an official statement on Monday, the QRIC confirmed that Mr Torpey had been demoted to a role in harness racing after an independent inquiry found him guilty of misconduct.
“A complaint was received from a member of the public about a matter that occurred before the Commission commenced in July last year,” said Barnett.
“As of Monday, Torpey has been permanently reassigned from his role as head of the Integrity Regulation Unit to a position as senior stipendiary steward in harness racing.”
Both the details of Mr Torpey’s misconduct and the nature of the initial complaint remain clouded in obscurity, but Barnett made no attempt to fill in the blanks.
“The integrity of the QRIC is of the utmost importance and complaints or issues that arise involving our staff are taken very seriously and fully investigated,” he added.
“People who provide us with information should be assured those matters will be properly investigated.”
Joshua Elliot, a former Queensland Police detective, will act as head of the QRIC integrity unit until a full-time replacement is appointed.
Our thoughts on the QRIC Torpey debacle
This is almost laughably bad PR for Racing Queensland.
There are several alarm bells that start ringing when a story of this nature comes out.
For one, the head of the integrity unit burying or flat-out ignoring an investigation comes very close to the dictionary definition of corruption.
For another, how is it that someone so patently ill-equipped for the role was appointed to such an important position in the first place?
Integrity commissions are supposed to clean things up, not create more mess.
The complaint around which this case revolves was already on the table when the QRIC set up shop, which means Mr Torpey and his unit fell at the very first hurdle.
Barnett and company are saying all the right words in the aftermath, but can they back it up by appointing an integrity head who actually knows what they are doing?