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Legislative Assembly for the ACT: 1999 Week 1 Hansard (16 February) . . Page.. 96 ..

MR KAINE (10.34): Mr Speaker, first of all, I want to indicate that I support this Bill, but I would also like to commend the Government for bringing this Bill forward and for putting in place the program that it has done in order to have the Bill examined by those people who will be affected by it. The exposure draft of this Bill has been on the table for some months. People have been given ample opportunity to look at it and consider its implications for all of the stakeholders in the racing industry. I believe that in many ways it is a Bill that is long overdue. It is replacing a Bill that was enacted in 1935 - I am quite sure a lot of changes have been made to the racing industry since then - and it does provide a proper framework for the conduct of racing in all of its forms in the Territory. It sets up a proper tribunal system to deal with difficulties that people might experience. I believe that it is a good Bill and I commend the Government for it.

MS CARNELL (Chief Minister and Treasurer) (10.35), in reply: Mr Speaker, the Racing Bill is a significant milestone in the history of the ACT racing industry and I certainly would like to thank all members of the Assembly for the support for this Bill. The evolution to principal club status for the ACT Racing Club will mean a huge change. It is something that many people within the racing industry have worked long and hard to achieve. I commend all of them for their determination. Becoming a principal club gives our racing club an opportunity for self-determination. For the first time, ACT race clubs will have the ability to have an independent voice in the administration and future development of racing in Australia. I think that is pretty exciting and pretty important. The racing industry in the ACT is a big industry. It employs a large number of people; in fact, significantly more than the community generally would think. There have been significant changes over the last few years and even more changes are planned for the next few years.

I would like to finish by commending Brian Gordon, who is here, Damien Foley and all of the other people, both inside and outside government, who put a lot of time and effort into the preparation of the Bill. I am sure that it is now full steam ahead to principal club status and to having a racing club that is standing on its own two feet and has its own voice.

Question resolved in the affirmative.

Bill agreed to in principle.

Leave granted to dispense with the detail stage.

Bill agreed to.

Debate resumed from 2 February 1999, on motion by Mr Smyth:

That this Bill be agreed to in principle.

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