Page 1061 - Week 04 - Wednesday, 20 April 1994
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MRS CARNELL (Leader of the Opposition) (3.13): Madam Speaker, I rise briefly to offer my support for the appointment of Mr Mark Owens to the position that Mr Lamont has announced today. My support for Mr Owens is based upon his expertise and commitment to the racing industry in the ACT and particularly his association with the racing club itself. For the past seven years he has been involved, firstly, in administration and, secondly, as secretary-manager of the ACT Racing Club. Mr Owens really is one of those people who, I suppose it could be said, have put Canberra racing on the map. In fact, only last month, as Mr Lamont has already said, Mark was awarded the title of New South Wales Racing Administrator of the Year by the New South Wales Racing Writers Association - something that he can very justly be proud of and something that I know that Canberra racing generally is proud of. It is quite an accolade for a man who began his career, as Mr Lamont said, as a public servant and really came to the racing industry only fairly recently.
Mr Owens has been, amongst other things, instrumental in the push for the ACT Racing Club to gain principal club status, so I am sure that in his new role he will be able to push that ahead even further. It is something that I know everybody associated with racing in the ACT believes is a must for Canberra. He has also been involved in the creation of the Black Opal racing series and lots of other major improvements in the Canberra racetrack and its facilities. Again, anybody who has been to the Canberra races recently, as I have - I go regularly - would know that the racetrack is something that we can all be proud of. We definitely have to put that down to Mark's achievements. His achievements certainly deserve recognition on both sides of the Assembly.
In conclusion, Madam Speaker, I am very pleased personally to note that the rumours that Mr Owens was leaving behind his association with the racing industry and with sport in the ACT have obviously been greatly exaggerated, if I may borrow at least half a quote from Twain. I am very pleased that Mark is staying with us, and I am sure that he will do this job as well as he has done the others.
MR DE DOMENICO (3.16): Madam Speaker, I endorse what Mrs Carnell and Mr Lamont have said. I am also delighted that Mr Owens will remain in Canberra. I do not think I am letting the cat out of the bag by revealing that people in other States were interested in Mr Owens's unquestionable talents. I congratulate the two Ministers on making sure that Mr Owens remains in Canberra for the benefit of the people of the ACT.
I also give Liberal Party support to the Minister's decision to establish a Bureau of Sport, Recreation and Racing. A lot of people do not realise the importance of the racing industry, in particular, to the economy of the ACT in terms of the number of people it employs in the ACT, a lot of whom are younger people. Let there be no doubt; the racing industry is a very important industry in this Territory. We should do whatever we can to make sure that it is enhanced and that it remains the jewel in the crown that it ought to be. Members on both sides of this house ought to make sure that this industry is strong and viable and continues to be strong and viable.
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