A majority Liberal government will:
- Invest $5.35 million to secure jobs and growth in Tasmania’s racing industry.
- Commit to annual increases in stakes across all three racing codes of 16 per cent over four years including 6 per cent in 2021-22.
- Commit to $350,000 in continued support for the thoroughbred and harness breeding sectors.
- Investment in a number of facilities and tracks across the State including: the Longford Racecourse, the Brighton Training Centre and the Devonport Racing Club at Spreyton.
- Deliver improved training opportunities for jockeys and other racing industry career opportunities.
- Complete the development of the new harness and greyhounds track on the North-West Coast.
Tasmania's racing industry generates more than $103 million a year in economic activity in Tasmania, particularly benefiting rural and regional areas.
A re-elected Majority Liberal Government will support the racing industry with further investment, including:
Commit to annual increases in stakes across all three racing codes of 16 per cent over four years including 6 per cent in 2021-22
Increased stakes are the single most important driver for participation in Tasmania’s racing industry.
Growth in stakes has been delivered under a Liberal Majority Government.
This will continue if re-elected, with annual increases in stakes across all three racing codes of 16 per cent over four years, including six per cent in 2021-22.
We have already delivered a 19 per cent increase in stakes over three years to February 2021. Total stakes money across all three racing codes has increased from $20.75 million in early 2018 to an annualised $24.7 million in the current financial year.
The introduction of a Point of Consumption Tax from 1 January 2020 provides the racing industry with a new stream of revenue, with 80 per cent of the additional tax to be allocated to the three codes to help fund stakes, infrastructure and animal welfare measures.
Commit to $350,000 in continued support for the thoroughbred and harness breeding sectors
A healthy racing industry requires a strong and vibrant breeding industry.
The Tasmanian breeding industry supports job-creation and economic activity, particularly in regional Tasmania.
The Majority Liberal Government has provided additional funding support to the thoroughbred and harness breeding sectors with $350,000 a year committed to the end of the 2023-24 financial year.
This funding has been allocated to increase foal numbers in Tasmania.
A re-elected Majority Liberal Government will continue this support until the 2024-25 financial year, with $300,000 to the Thoroughbred Incentive Scheme and $50,000 to Harness breeding incentives.
Investment in a number of facilities and tracks across the State including: the Longford Racecourse, the Brighton Training Centre and the Devonport Racing Club at Spreyton
A re-elected Majority Liberal Government will invest $3 million to further one-off infrastructure upgrades including –
- Longford Racecourse
The Longford track is a key training facility for the thoroughbred code.
A re-elected Majority Liberal Government will commit to funding upgrades at the facility including the construction of an 800-metre trial start chute.
- Brighton Training Centre
The Brighton greyhound, harness and thoroughbred training tracks are used 365 days a year by trainers across all three codes.
Funding will be provided to training facilities to address infrastructure needs including track repairs, resurfacing of stripping stalls, upgrade of the irrigation system and improvements to the greyhound straight track.
- Devonport Racing Club
The Devonport all-weather venue located at Spreyton is an all-year-round thoroughbred training facility and also a key racing venue, especially during the winter period.
The venue has hosted up to 23 meetings per year and a range of improvements are required to the Devonport Racing Club’s main amenities building especially the female jockey rooms. The current equine pool is also in need of upgrading.
Deliver improved training opportunities for jockeys and other racing industry career opportunities.
The independent Review of Tasracing by the Department of Treasury and Finance found that there had been a significant decline in jockey numbers (around 20 per cent) between 2015-16 and 2018-19.
This is a critical risk for the thoroughbred code and the industry has identified it as a concern.
As it stands, there are no local training packages leading to accreditation for jockeys following the withdrawal of Tasmanian TAFE modules some years ago.
The industry has attempted to address the shortage in jockeys with measures such as a partnership with the Hong Kong Jockey Club.
Training packages in Tasmania are currently delivered by an interstate Registered Training Authority, which delivers modules in Tasmania on a fly-in-fly-out basis according to demand.
There is also no accredited Tasmanian harness driver training offered, leaving the harness code reliant upon a Victorian training provider and these courses are not accredited.
A re-elected Majority Liberal Government is taking action to build a stronger TasTAFE, which is fit for purpose, industry-specific and offers training matched to the outcomes required.
We will ensure that our TasTAFE or trade training centres are engaged to reintroduce jockey apprentice training and mandatory training packages linked to licences.
This identified need for training of jockeys, trackwork riders, harness drivers and other racing industry jobs is a demonstration of the need for a flexible, more responsive TAFE that will address skills shortages for the future.
Complete the development of the new harness and greyhounds track on the North-West Coast.
The Majority Liberal Government has also committed $8 million to relocate harness and greyhound racing from the Devonport Showgrounds to a new facility, following the sale of the property by the Devonport Agricultural and Pastoral Society to a property developer.
Consulting engineers have been appointed and are working to refine site options.
An industry consultation group has also been appointed to provide advice on the project, which will provide 450 housing lots including social and affordable housing.
Our record in Government:
- $12.5 million towards the re-development of the Elwick Racecourse.
- Removing the Funding Deed efficiency dividend, ensuring an additional $300,000 per year.
- Exceeded the 2018 election commitment of an average annual 4 per cent stakes increase, delivering a total 19 per cent uplift within three years.
- Funding for thoroughbred and harness breeding schemes - $2.1 million over six years.
- Established new steward cadetship positions in the Office of Racing Integrity
- Boosting funding for greyhound rehoming efforts - $130,000.
- Opened the State’s first dedicated greyhound rehoming facility for the Greyhound Adoption Program at Mangalore.
- Removed the requirement for greyhounds to be muzzled in public.
- More than $500,000 provided to projects across the State under the Community Racing Club Infrastructure Grants.
- Introduction of the Point of Consumption Tax with 80 per cent of the additional revenue raised by this tax to go directly to the racing industry to help fund stakes, infrastructure and animal welfare measures.
- Introduction of a new Maternity Assistance Program for female jockeys and harness racing drivers.
- Consultation paper released to inform strategic direction of racing over the next five years.
- Formation of the Next Generation Racing Committee which will draw from all three racing codes and provide advice directly to the Minister for Racing.
Labor-Green Government record:
- Labor sold TOTE, setting the industry back years.
- Tasracing suffered $16 million in accumulated losses from 2009 to 2014-15.
- The Greens want to shut the racing industry down.
Costings
The total cost of this policy is $5.35 million over four years, including a $3 million equity contribution to TasRacing.