Page 2354 - Week 08 - Tuesday, 12 August 2014
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That said, there are also people coming forward with some interesting ideas about how we might make a quicker impact. I will certainly continue to pursue the validity and check the scientific rigour of some of those proposed quick fixes, because if we can find one all the better. Certainly, many sports are dependent on our lake. Just that basic recreational activity, which is less recognised in the discussion about sport and recreation, relies heavily on the lakes.
So with those few remarks, I simply conclude by saying that I look forward to continuing to work with Canberrans across the community on ensuring that we have the best possible sporting facilities in our city, that we are encouraging as many people as possible to participate in a club, in an activity or in some sort of recreational activity. I am certainly making a considerable effort at the moment to get out and meet as many of the clubs and groups as possible, and I look forward to continuing that and working with them over the coming months to continue to make this city a sporting capital of this country.
MS BURCH (Brindabella—Minister for Education and Training, Minister for Disability, Minister for Multicultural Affairs, Minister for Racing and Gaming, Minister for Women and Minister for the Arts) (5.20): I rise to talk on a number of elements within this budget line. Firstly, I would like to talk on gaming and racing. This budget continues the government’s strong support for the appropriate gaming and racing activities in Canberra—as an important community support, as a job generator and for businesses in their own right.
In terms of gaming, the clubs contribute much to the life of the territory, as most members of the Assembly acknowledge. The most recent data shows a community contribution by clubs of $13 million, which is $5 million more than they are required to do under legislation. This year we will make substantial progress in delivering on the government’s MOU with the club sector. I expect to announce in the near future a substantial package of reforms that will make life much easier for community clubs while maintaining a strict regime of harm minimisation for gambling activities.
In terms of racing, this budget continues the government’s strong support for the racing industry—thoroughbreds, harness and greyhounds. More than $8 million is provided to the codes in grant funding per year for each of the forward estimate years. To give the codes as much certainty as possible, we are committed to working with them on a multi-year contractual arrangement. I see the racing sector as a valued industry for the government and for the ACT. An economic valuation of the racing industry by Allen Consulting back in 2011 noted that the modelling results show that the closure of the ACT racing industry could cause an economic deficit in our economy, and they valued it at around $50 million. Similarly, in the same report, Access Economics estimated the contribution of the industry by calculating participants—trainers, the breeders, the owners, the jockeys—customer spending, wagering and racing club spending at around $50 million also.
In November of this year the Canberra community will have a chance to see and enjoy Unbridled, a festival of horses, music and food at Thoroughbred Park, an initiative supported by government funding. A very exciting program is being developed, and I do encourage all members to attend. The government will respond to options put forward in the study of the potential relocation for the racing codes later this year.
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