Page 3060 - Week 09 - Tuesday, 22 August 2017
Next page . . . . Previous page . . . . Speeches . . . . Contents . . . . Debates(HTML) . . . . PDF . . . . Video
At the start of this whole debate the government continued to assert that the industry must close because “we will not continue to spend money on it”. Well, we are not spending any money. As the minister outlined, it ceased a couple of months ago. The funding has been removed. The industry has proven that, unlike thoroughbred racing and harness racing, it can actually support itself. It does not need government funding. What is truly shameful is that this ACT government, which has declared that greyhound racing is out of step with community values, continues to accept money from Tabcorp that comes directly from the turnover of greyhound racing. Yes, Madam Speaker, you heard me right—despite cutting the funding to greyhound racing and then attempting to cut the greyhound racing industry off at its knees, we continue to get money that comes from the turnover of greyhound racing.
When asked about the greyhound money in estimates we were told that this money is not from turnover; this is just the ongoing licence fee. If you are receiving money from Tabcorp, I think it is safe to say that the money did not come from the sale of hamburgers. I think it is pretty safe to say that the money came from turnover. When you consider the growing percentage of turnover that is from greyhound racing, it is very clear that we are continuing to accept this blood money. What a disgrace that this government continues to accept millions of dollars over the forward estimates from betting on greyhound racing which it says is out of step with community values.
The transition packages will not be required because nobody is transitioning out of anything to anything else. I note that minister suggested in his statement that:
We are focused at this point on ending greyhound racing in the territory, but the government also intends to examine the regulation of breeding and training of greyhounds in the ACT to determine if those measures require strengthening. Breeding and training practices in relation to greyhounds will be carefully monitored over the next two years to identify the future of these practices in the ACT.
I made contact with members of the industry to inquire as to whether there had been any consultation with them on this front, and, of course, there has been none. I look forward to the court process. I look forward to the continuation of greyhound racing in Canberra.
Question resolved in the affirmative.
Work health and safety—annual statement
Ministerial statement
MS STEPHEN-SMITH (Kurrajong—Minister for Community Services and Social Inclusion, Minister for Disability, Children and Youth, Minister for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Affairs, Minister for Multicultural Affairs and Minister for Workplace Safety and Industrial Relations) (10.47): I appreciate the opportunity to stand before the Assembly today to provide members with my first annual update on work health and safety in the territory.
Next page . . . . Previous page . . . . Speeches . . . . Contents . . . . Debates(HTML) . . . . PDF . . . . Video