VRC Head Vet Dr Grace Forbes - bullying employment case. Sir Delius scratching fallout?

[Chief Stipe]

Comment: Vet checked – Spring disclosure puts spotlight on Morrison, with the likelihood of more to come – The Straight

thestraight.com.au

Racing Victoria chief executive Aaron Morrison is facing a reputational crisis at the time of the year where the industry is looking to put on its best face. But, as Bren O’Brien writes, the timing of the publication of bullying allegations by chief vet Dr Grace Forbes should be no surprise, and may be just the start of the fallout.

By Bren O'Brien ● Racing Industry ● October 22, 2025

Racing Victoria CEO Aaron Morrison was named in a bullying complaint by Dr Grace Forbes. (Photo by Jay Town/Racing Photos via Getty Images)

When a sensational bullying and harassment complaint from Racing Victoria’s general manager of veterinary services Dr Grace Forbes was detailed in the Herald Sun just days out from the Cox Plate, hearts sank at 400 Epsom Rd, the home of the state’s thoroughbred racing regulator.

An “upset” Racing Victoria chief executive Aaron Morrison described the appearance of the story to The Straight as “timed to generate maximum damage and mischief”.

The complaint, which took the form of an “application for an order to stop bullying” with the Fair Work Commission, was filed in August.

The whereabouts of Dr Forbes, a public figure in the RV vet team for over a decade, had been the source of mounting speculation for months. It was clear to most that she was unlikely to return to her post.

The Straight inquired about her employment status in early September, and was told she was on personal leave and was still on the books at RV. This is still believed to be the case.

Contacted in early October, Dr Forbes replied to The Straight that “given her situation, it was inappropriate for me to comment at this time”.

How her detailed application to the Fair Work Commission came to be published in the Herald Sun is not certain, and Dr Forbes has maintained her silence, despite the mounting public interest.

Such documents are usually made discoverable later in the legal process, once mediation has failed, and the hearing is set.

The possibility that such documents may become public is often used as leverage by a complainant’s legal team in achieving any settlement ahead of a costly trial.

In this instance, it is unusual for such a submission to find its way into the public domain at this stage. But if it was ever going to happen, it would be at this time of year.

An escalated HR issue between Racing Victoria and a senior member of staff might warrant a mention in the mainstream press in summer, autumn or winter, but it certainly wouldn’t get anywhere near the front page.

This was a storm that RV could have easily predicted.

It was an issue which had been bubbling along for some time, and while RV weren’t in a position to provide ongoing commentary, the absence of Dr Forbes during a time of year where her job is most public, was always going to raise questions.

This was only heightened by the decision to rule favourite Sir Delius out of the Melbourne Cup, via the vet protocols, that until June, Dr Forbes had been responsible for enforcing and had been the public face of for several years, including her position on billboards around the state.

Morrison described the timing of Dr Forbes’ complaint becoming public days after the Sir Delius decision as a “strange irony”.

Forbes’ submission makes a number of serious claims, but what rankled most with RV was the suggestion that the RV executive and board had encouraged her to be less strict with her application of the protocols brought in in 2020 to reduce deaths and injuries in Melbourne feature races.

“The repeated request of me to be flexible suggests that I should be unethical, which is at odds with my commitment to advocate for the horse,” Dr Forbes said in her statement.

“I raised concerns that permitting high risk horses to race could result in serious and or fatal injuries to international horses. The meeting was ended.”

That meeting, which also included RV integrity manager Jamie Stier, took place in April this year, but Morrison denies that any pressure was placed on Dr Forbes to be more flexible.

“There’s never, ever been any compromise of standards,” Morrison told The Straight.

He also denied that third parties, such as prominent owner Nick Williams or leading global trainer Aidan O’Brien, had sought to influence Racing Victoria’s welfare stance.

Dr Grace Forbes’ detailed application to the Fair Work Commission was published in the Herald Sun (Pat Scala/Racing Photos via Getty Images)

Forbes complaints extend back to a June 2024 board meeting.

“I have been publicly humiliated, misrepresented, unsupported, bullied, undermined and professionally isolated by my immediate supervisor Mr Jamie Stier and the chief executive officer, Mr Aaron Morrison,” her submission reads.

The decision to utilise international vets Dr David Sykes and Amanda Piggott to co-ordinate the scanning and inspections of spring contenders in Europe this year looks to have been the final straw.

RV maintains that decision was not related to Dr Forbes’ capability to fulfill the veterinary aspects of her role. It was done to better manage communications and transparency with the overseas trainers and owners.

It sees the ongoing implementation of the protocols as the responsibility of the entire team, not just the GM of Veterinary Services.

Forbes also said she felt her card had been marked for exit for some time and that when Morrison took over in August 2024, rumours were rife that she was set to depart.

The Straight has been told that the future of her position was discussed by industry participants around this time. This is likely how it was incorrectly reported in other sections of the media that she had left her role. 

There is still a great deal more to play out in this situation. RV may have faced a fire this week, but the danger of reputational damage, especially to Morrison, has far from passed.

It may be that all of Dr Forbes’ cards have been put on the table with her submission being published in the media, but there may also be more disclosures coming.

In a situation where her complaint is heard before the Fair Work Commission, Morrison and Stier would almost certainly be compelled to take the stand. The prospect of being cross examined by a senior barrister is not something any executive would look forward to. 

The potential for significant reputational damage, plus the costs of progressing to the Commission, are why so many Fair Work cases are settled early in the process.

The Straight is not suggesting this will definitely happen, but this eventuality remains a possibility should the situation end up in the Commission.

In addition to her current Fair Work action, which is likely to be heard by the end of the year, there is also a possibility that Forbes could pursue other legal avenues which could see the matter come before court.  

In that case, Dr Forbes’ legal team could seek discovery of communications between Racing Victoria’s directors and executives and others in the racing industry as to Dr Forbes’ position. These discovery documents could be made public, while other related parties could also be subpoenaed.