QUICK FACTS
- The Racing Regulation and Reform Bill is the biggest industry reform in decades
- National best practice integrity model
- Abolish the Office of Racing Integrity and create a tough new integrity cop on the beat
- Invest more than $1 million to support animal welfare initiatives each year
- Back in breeders and owners, the life blood of our industry.Under our 2030 Strong Plan for Tasmania’s Future, a re-elected majority Liberal Government will:
- Deliver a new Racing Integrity Commissioner
- Provide additional professional development and training for Stewards and a Cadet Stewards Program
- Deliver an enforceable Equine Code of Practice for harness and thoroughbred horses
- Deliver an enforceable Greyhound Code of Practice
- Continue financial support for the Greyhound Adoption Program (GAP) to rehome up to 150 greyhounds per year
- Invest $2 million in Burnie, Spreyton and Carrick Racecourses to ensure that racing remains vibrant in regional and rural areas
- Commit $350,000 to support the thoroughbred and harness breeding sectors.
- Ensure that funding received by the industry from the Point of Consumption Tax
is maintained in real terms.
An important part of our 2030 Strong Plan for Tasmania's Future is supporting industry to employ Tasmanians.
Deliver a new Racing Integrity Commissioner
A re-elected majority Liberal Government will deliver the largest integrity reforms in decades through the Racing Regulation and Integrity Bill, which is based on evidence and industry best practice.
The delivery of this reform will provide the Tasmanian racing industry with a modern, effective and fit-for-purpose model for regulation and integrity. This includes $1.9 million in funding to progress the new integrity model.
This funding will help establish the independent Tasmanian Racing Integrity Commissioner with comprehensive oversight of the administration and regulation of the Tasmanian racing industry. It will also ensure Tasracing is appropriately resourced to be operationally responsible for all three codes of racing, including pre-race day and race day management, stewards and daily animal welfare.
Investing in training for Stewards and a Cadet Stewards Program
A re-elected majority Liberal Government will provide funding of $100,000 over two years to ensure that Tasmanian stewards have access to professional development and training. Once transitioned to Tasracing, this investment allows participants and the community to be reassured that our stewards have the skills and knowledge required to maintain the rules and integrity of racing.
A re-elected majority Liberal Government will continue to invest in workforce renewal, including the successful Cadet Stewards program with funding of $250,000 per year. This will fund three positions for the next two years ensuring we have skilled and capable stewards to support the racing community in Tasmania into the future.
Enforceable Equine and Greyhound Code of Practices
A re-elected majority Liberal Government will commit to the establishment of an Equine Code of Practice for the care of thoroughbred and harness racehorses to be enforced under the Rules of Racing.
Further we will progress the enforceable Greyhound Welfare Code of Practice, containing provisions in respect of minimum standards for the care, housing and health of dogs in the industry.
Invest in facilities to ensure that racing remains vibrant in regional and rural areas
A re-elected majority Liberal Government will work with industry stakeholders to deliver a solution for North-West harness and greyhound racing following the closure of the Devonport track. This will involve consultation with the industry so that we deliver a solution at the right price, not any price.
We will invest in training facilities that suit the daily requirements of North West harness and greyhound trainers, ensuring they can train and prepare their horses and dogs at a fit-for-purpose training facility on the Coast.
This infrastructure will ensure participants in the North West are not at a competitive disadvantage to those in other regions and do not need to travel to access a daily training environment.
Continuation of the current subsidy will be provided to North-West trainers at current funding levels of $230,000 for the next two years.
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 Tasmanian Liberals have provided additional funding support to the thoroughbred and harness breeding sectors with $350,000 per annum 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, with $300,000 to the Thoroughbred Incentive Scheme and $50,000 to Harness breeding incentives.
Point of Consumption Tax to help grow stakes, infrastructure and animal welfare measures
A re-elected majority Liberal Government will continue to invest more than $1 million to support animal welfare initiatives each year from the Point of Consumption revenue.
This $1 million per annum investment will support initiatives designed to ensure that Tasracing meet its Greyhound Adoption Program targets of 150 dogs rehomed through that program.
The Point of Consumption revenue will continue to provide the racing industry with a stream of revenue, to be allocated to the three codes to help fund stakes, infrastructure and animal welfare measures.
Net Cost: $2.81 million in operating expenses and $2 million in capital expenditure.