The Tasmanian Liberal Government remains committed to ensuring the highest standards of integrity and animal welfare in the harness racing industry.
The Government has received the final report into allegations of team driving, race fixing and animal welfare concerns in the Tasmanian harness racing industry and the management of those issues by the Office of Racing Integrity.
Minister for Racing, Felix Ellis, thanked independent investigator and racing and integrity expert, Ray Murrihy, for his diligence in assessing more than 44 submissions and conducting over 50 interviews, along with examining betting records, reviewing extensive race footage and undertaking site visits.
“Thank you also to industry members and stakeholders who provided written statements and agreed to be interviewed as part of this important review,” Minister Ellis said.
“The final report follows an interim report in which Mr Murrihy provided support for the Government’s Racing Regulation and Integrity Bill 2023 and Racing Regulation and Integrity (Consequential Amendments) Bill 2023, which were tabled in Parliament on 15 November.
“This new legislation includes the creation of a Tasmanian Racing Integrity Commissioner, who will have powers to set integrity and animal welfare standards. Staff who have experience in animal welfare policy and regulation will be appointed to the Commission.
“The Government has supported in-principle all recommendations in the interim report from Mr Murrihy, noting that matters of industry competitiveness and codes of practice are largely matters for Tasracing to consider within the integrity framework.
“We will now consider all recommendations made against the Terms of Reference in this final report. Once this has occurred a further statement will be made and the report will be available to the public,” Minister Ellis said.
The Tasmanian Liberal Government is a proud supporter of the racing industry which is a way of life for many Tasmanians and generates more than $208 million in activity with the involvement of more than 6400 people across the State.
