Victims of historical sexual and physical abuse in the Victorian racing industry will be eligible for restitution if racing\u2019s three codes adopt a recommendation handed down by the Office of the Racing Integrity Commissioner on Wednesday.<\/p>\n
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A confronting report has been released into historical physical and sexual abuse in the racing industry in Victoria.<\/span>Credit: <\/span>Nick Cubbin<\/cite><\/p>\n The office, led by commissioner Sean Carroll, handed down a confronting and graphic 78-page report on Wednesday after completing a review of the complaints process for victims of abuse in the racing industry.<\/p>\n Carroll made nine recommendations, which included calls for each of the thoroughbred, greyhound and harness racing codes to establish independent schemes for current and former industry participants who have experienced physical and sexual abuse or harassment.<\/p>\n The schemes, which Carroll said should allow victims to seek restitution and rehabilitation, would need to established within the next 12 months and operate for at least two years.<\/p>\n It comes as Racing Victoria apologised for the harm caused by systemic abuse throughout the racing industry, dating back to the 1970s.<\/p>\n Racing Victoria chief executive Andrew Jones apologised to victims of abuse.<\/span>Credit: <\/span>Getty Images<\/cite><\/p>\n \u201cWe acknowledge the harm suffered and, on behalf of the industry, apologise for it,\u201d Racing Victoria chief executive Andrew Jones said in a joint statement with the jockeys\u2019 and trainers\u2019 associations on Wednesday.<\/p>\n \u201cNo one should experience physical or sexual abuse, assault or harassment, including in their workplace, and everyone, from employers to colleagues, has a role in ensuring that.<\/p>\n \u201cRacing\u2019s workplaces have changed substantially for the better. The final report recognises that we have taken comprehensive steps to better prevent and respond to harm.<\/p>\n \u201cHowever, it makes clear that we have more work to do. This includes ensuring those experiencing harm have greater confidence to come forward.\u201d<\/p>\n Dennis Green, a former jockey and track work rider in the 1970s who was subjected to abuse and cruel initiation practises while at Caulfield, participated in the review. He has given this masthead permission to identify him.<\/p>\n Green said he was happy the authorities were being held to account. It wasn\u2019t until the early 2000s that police investigated Green\u2019s allegations, which led to two men being convicted.<\/p>\n \u201cI think it was pretty damning to have my era depicted in pretty graphic terms like that, and I\u2019m grateful for that because any responsible human would be horrified by those accounts and how extensive the harm and criminality and outright depravity was back then, for a lot of kids,\u201d Green said.<\/p>\n \u201cI thought the recommendations were pretty extensive and far-reaching. There\u2019s recognition in there for past victims, so that\u2019s gratifying for me, for sure.\u201d<\/p>\n A number of participants told the review of their distress at knowing some perpetrators still worked in the industry. Identities of the victims referred to in the report were kept confidential.<\/p>\n Over nine months, the office conducted 185 confidential listening sessions. Of the victim survivors who took part in the review, 71 per cent worked in the thoroughbred racing industry, while 31 per cent were harmed before the age of 18, and another 51 per cent were harmed while aged 18-25.<\/p>\n The span of abuse dated from the 1970s to this current decade, and 80 per cent of the victims were subjected to harm in their first three years in the industry.<\/p>\n A culture of silence was the common theme among victim survivors.<\/p>\n One told the review: \u201cRaising awareness [of sexual abuse] just brings your whole career to nothing.<\/p>\n \u201cAs soon as you do you are looked upon as a bit weak, they won\u2019t take you around the stables \u2026 You have to earn your stripes by not saying [anything]. That\u2019s how you get the good horses.<\/p>\n Racing integrity commissioner Sean Carroll.<\/span>Credit: <\/span>Joe Armao<\/cite><\/p>\n \u201cWell, who is going to believe me? It\u2019s [a high-profile participant]. I\u2019m a kid. Who\u2019s going to believe me?\u201d<\/p>\n Others told the review they hid their shame under a culture of \u201cjust getting on with it\u201d.<\/p>\n Brutal initiation rituals during the 1970s and 1980s were commonplace in the thoroughbred racing industry, according to the review.<\/p>\n \u201cSeveral participants recounted a particularly horrendous initiation where they were tied naked to a lamppost in a busy street, with horse testicles (removed in gelding) wrapped around their necks,\u201d the report said.<\/p>\n \u201cAll victim survivors who spoke of being the target of initiations \u2013 and who knew of others who were The report also detailed sexual assaults on young racing participants, many who lived in dormitories at stables or in share houses with other stable staff.<\/p>\n While 62 per cent of victims who shared their experiences were male, there were also stories of female victims.<\/p>\n One victim survivor told the review: \u201cIf you were a girl working in a racing stable, you were classed as an \u2018easy\u2019. \u2026 If you were working at a racing stable you were \u2018asking for it\u2019 \u2026 Trainers would walk up beside the girl and touch them \u2026 Girls who wanted to go further in the racing industry had to sleep with the boss.\u201d<\/p>\n While the review acknowledged Racing Victoria had done substantial work to build its participant protection policy framework, the review found Greyhound Racing Victoria and Harness Racing Victoria were both without child safeguarding policies.<\/p>\n Victorian racing minister Anthony Carbines described the allegations of abuse and harassment as deeply distressing.<\/p>\n \u201cTheir voices have been heard and will drive meaningful and enduring change,\u201d Carbines said. \u201cThe commissioner has made nine recommendations to racing control bodies to ensure the industry prioritises the safety and wellbeing of its people and that they are protected by a robust code of conduct.<\/p>\n \u201cI look forward to the Victorian racing industry responding accordingly to intensify its efforts to improve its culture and implement the measures that will deliver the change required.\u201d<\/p>\n<\/p>\n
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Some of the key recommendations<\/h3>\n
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similarly besieged \u2013 were minors at the time, no older than 15 years of age, and many were younger.\u201d<\/p>\n