The powerful figures involved in a new Racing Reform Group have immediately begun to lobby the NSW government to make changes to the terms of the review into the Thoroughbred Racing Act.
A newly formed group is lobbying the NSW state government to widen the scope of the review into the Thoroughbred Racing Act, calling on the terms of reference to critically include the industry’s funding model.
A group of influential thoroughbred industry figures behind the Racing Reform Group, which officially launched on Thursday, has already lodged a petition on the NSW Parliamentary website.
It urges the Minns Labor government to allow the ongoing Hazzard Review to consider the funding model of racing and the relationship between the thoroughbred regulator Racing NSW and the state government.
Former NSW health minister Brad Hazzard began his review last month and has been meeting with stakeholders in recent weeks concerning their views on the state’s thoroughbred industry.
But the Racing Reform Group, whose steering committee includes prominent owner-breeder and former Australian Turf Club board member Julia Ritchie, Yarraman Park’s Arthur Mitchell and syndicator, owner and breeder Jason Abrahams, is concerned that the review does not go far enough.
The steering committee of the group also includes Attunga Stud’s Brian Nutt, who is acting as secretary, leading international law firm partner David Walter, former racing administrator Helen Sinclair and bloodstock agent Will Johnson.
Abrahams, who owns Champion Thoroughbreds, said the formation of the group and the petition was about raising awareness of the issues facing the state’s thoroughbred industry that could shape its future for the next two decades.
“It seems incomprehensible to most that the biggest issue in racing is who controls the money and where the money comes from, etc, and yet that’s being excluded from the review,” Abrahams told The Straight.
“Obviously, governance is an important one and that might solve a few issues as well, but they’re the two big ticket items. The way we look at it is the Thoroughbred Racing Act was established (in 1996) at a time when the landscape was so different to what it is now.
“We’re very excited to have the review but to exclude probably what we thought were the most important parts of the industry is you just don’t want it to be a half-baked review.
“Hopefully, Brad Hazard does a great job and if we can draw his attention to the issues that he’s not meant to be looking at in terms of scope and maybe he can make a recommendation to Parliament, to the government … to put it on the agenda for the funding model to be reviewed.
“As an industry, we can then get some true guidance for the future.”
The review was triggered after an Upper House Select Committee inquiry was conducted into the proposed $5 billion sale of Rosehill, which was subsequently voted down by the Australian Turf Club members in majority in May.
The review is aimed at assessing the effectiveness of governance structures and processes, transparency mechanisms, stakeholder consultation and participation and initiatives to ensure the sustainability of viability of the industry.
Hazzard is also charged with considering best practice to ensure the integrity and regulation of racing and to promote animal and jockey welfare but it clearly states that the provisions of the Act that relate to Racing NSW as an independent body and to funding arrangements are excluded from the review.
Mitchell urged the industry to sign the petition.
“Like many of you, I’ve spent my life in this industry, it’s something I care deeply about,” Mitchell wrote to clients and colleagues on Thursday.
“We’ve seen incredible growth in NSW over the years, but if we want racing to remain strong for the generations that follow us, we need to take an honest look at where things stand today and what needs to change.”
Submissions to the review close at 5pm on Monday while the Racing Reform Group’s petition can be signed via the NSW parliamentary website.
Article taken from The Straight, written by Tim Rowe, November 20
https://thestraight.com.au/heavy-hitters-rally-for-reform-to-nsw-industry/
