Page 5607 - Week 14 - Thursday, 30 November 2017
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Greyhound racing—inspections
Mr Ramsay (in reply to a supplementary question by Ms Lee on Wednesday, 1 November 2017):
Access Canberra, undertakes a broad range of compliance related activities on behalf of the ACT Gambling and Racing Commission this includes inspections associated with racing venues in the ACT.
Since the establishment of Access Canberra, these inspections have incorporated a range of regulated activities such as liquor supply, security licensing and smoking restrictions, as well as specific racing and gaming compliance obligations.
Specifically Access Canberra conducts the Racing Events Compliance Program. This is a scheduled program and aims to ensure that Access Canberra inspectors will be in attendance at each racing club for key events such as Melbourne Cup Day, Canberra Cup Day and other events where the level of interest may be increased due to higher levels of prizemoney associated with the event(s).
All inspection activity associated with the racing clubs is to ensure integrity of operations and to determine levels of compliance with the applicable legislative provisions.
Aside from general Inspection activity associated with the Greyhound Racing Club, Access Canberra on behalf of the Gaming and Racing Commission was tasked with ensuring that a recommendation of the Durkin Inquiry, namely that a Vet be in attendance at all race meetings and trials, was communicated to the Club and that this was adopted. As a result of this new obligation increased inspection activities at Trials did occur as it was incumbent on Access Canberra to ensure that the Canberra Greyhound Racing Club was aware of and understood this new obligation. There have been no concerns in relation to compliance with this requirement.
The level of engagement with Racing Clubs is necessary to ensure that Access Canberra is able to satisfy community expectations that all are operating in a manner consistent with established governing legislation, and to quickly identify and address any issues or concerns that may be identified or raised.
The ratio of Greyhound race event inspections in comparison to the total number of inspections whilst indicating an increase between 2015/2016 and 2016/2017 is not showing a significant spike in greyhound race inspections:
• 2015/16 – the percentage of Greyhound event inspections in comparison to overall inspections total was 14% (22 total inspections: 3 greyhound race events)
• 2016/17 – the percentage of Greyhound event inspections in comparison to overall inspections totals was 24% (84 total inspections : 20 greyhound race events)
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