Page 725 - Week 03 - Thursday, 21 May 1992
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The racing industry is also an important component of the ACT tourism industry. The three racing codes in the ACT have been given government assistance both to ensure that their facilities are maintained at a high standard and to attract high-quality races to the nation's capital. This high standard has been clearly recognised by the success of Frank Cleary's stables in attracting interstate and, more recently, overseas support to train horses in the ACT. This Government will continue to actively support the enhancement of the racing industry in the ACT. I might mention, Madam Speaker, that I was delighted to be able to personally congratulate Frank Cleary on his success as a trainer, most notably with Clan O'Sullivan, by awarding him the Chief Minister's Sports Achievement Award for 1992.
Madam Speaker, high on the agenda for racing Ministers at our recent meeting was the ongoing question of TAB returns to both government and the punter as the State and Territory TABs all seek to gain a leading niche in the marketplace. The proposal before Ministers to drop the percentage taken by governments as a means of attracting larger TAB takings and pools and hence larger dividends has been seen by commentators as the first step towards one national TAB pool. While such a proposal is seen in some quarters as a natural progression that would allow overseas punters access to one Australian TAB - with a greater return to government - the New South Wales Government seems disinclined to support such action, presumably as it presently has market dominance. This dominance will, I believe, diminish as the emerging block TAB - made up of Victoria, South Australia, Western Australia, Tasmania, the Northern Territory and the ACT - actively seeks to attract punters to use its facilities. The ACT Government supports this development.
I advised the Racing Ministers Conference that the ACT Government would support the Victorian TAB in its quest for larger dividend returns as it acts as host TAB for win-place bets from the ACT. The ministerial meeting also had before it a proposal for an innovative multi-choice betting game currently operating in Western Australia which will be investigated further by my officials.
I must place on record my appreciation of my State ministerial colleagues allowing me to place the question of principal club status for the ACT Racing Club on the agenda for their meeting. The ACT Racing Club has for some time sought principal club status from the Conference of Principal Clubs, the body formed in 1904 to coordinate the registration of racehorses and, importantly, the recognition of local race clubs.
The "country" status afforded to the ACT Racing Club is neither helping with the standard of racing in the ACT nor befitting of the racecourse in the nation's capital. Principal club status would allow access to the Conference of Principal Clubs and, in particular, the setting of particular race dates. The cavalier manner in which the AJC refused the ACT Racing Club race dates, for example, on Canberra Day and the loss of subsequent New South Wales TAB coverage of meetings in the ACT disadvantaged not only owners, trainers and punters in the ACT but also other members of the South-East Racing Association. Racing Ministers, Madam Speaker, agreed to take up the matter with the various conference delegates from their States prior to the National Conference of Principal Clubs in September this year. My officials will also pursue the issue with their State counterparts.
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