Page 1060 - Week 03 - Wednesday, 17 March 2010
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country. Imagine their surprise. They actually encouraged the minister to do this. They thought the minister was going to give them the additional money. They had absolutely no idea that the minister was going to reduce their funding by exactly the same amount.
It is important. Indeed, that goes to the last point, that we do have a strategy for the industry, a long-term strategy. The long-term strategy really should look at progressing towards a national funding model for the Australian racing industry in consultation with the other states and territory governments and the national racing industry. That is not contained in this either.
If you went through it point by point, you would see “notes the social and economic importance”. I think we all agree with that. It says:
… notes the importance of fiscal responsibility and the maintenance of a balanced budget through the economic cycle …
We have had the economic cycle argument in this place many times. What does it mean? When does it start? When does it finish? How long are you doing this over? It says “notes the … report”. The report is there. It says that it acknowledges the importance of funding problem gambling programs. I think we all agree with that; I do not think anybody opposes that.
But when you get to the nub of it, this amendment lets the government off the hook. All it calls for is consultation, and that is inadequate in this instance. What the industry want is an opportunity to negotiate with the government on what happens, when it happens and how it happens. They do not want to be asking. The government actually knows what they want. The government could say that they have already done the consultation. They have got a report from Access; they have had discussions through various avenues. The Chief Minister’s office is even involved now, because the minister’s office has not been doing the job that it should have and the minister has not been doing the job that he should have. The problem with this is that it lets the government off the hook. Part 5(b) says:
… implement that funding formula in the 2010-11 Budget.
I suspect it is already there. I suspect that what is happening, and why the minister will not meet with the industry, is that he does not want to tell them the bad news. Various parts of the government at various times have said to the industry, “We will get you an answer by Monday,” “We will meet with you on Friday,” or “We will get back to you shortly.” But at every stage they are fobbed off by not getting an answer about their future.
Again, that is the problem. It is already in the 2010-11 budget. The minister has harvested the million and a half; he has already taken that. He told this place that it would generate additional revenue. He did not tell this place that they would take it again. That is what the industry says in its press release:
On 8 December 2009 the Minister for Gaming and Racing Mr Andrew Barr MLA issued a media release which stated:
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