About 170 Queensland racing participants have failed to pay more than $100,000 in fines and penalties this year.
Some of the individual debts are as high as $8000.
The Queensland Racing Integrity Commissioner has in an unusual step suspended recovery efforts until the New Year but issued a final warning.
QRIC Commissioner Ross Barnett said it was important outstanding debtors paid up before the Christmas-New Year holiday was over.
“We have a list of more than 170 racing industry participants across Queensland who owe more than $100,000 in fees and fines,” Barnett said.
“This is a comparatively small number given there are about 6000 licensees in the state, but some of these debts are greater than 90 days old, with some invoices remaining unpaid for more than a year.”
“But in the spirit of the season, we have suspended our efforts to recover the outstanding amounts until the New Year and I would like people to do the right thing and settle up their accounts voluntarily.”
Barnett said if outstanding debtors had not paid by the time QRIC reopened after the holiday break he would have to consider his options, including licence suspensions.
