Improving protection for jockeys

Elise Archer,Attorney-General and Minister for Racing

Better protection for jockeys and other professional sportspeople is one step closer following the introduction of amendments to the Civil Liability Act 2002 today in Parliament.

The Hodgman Majority Liberal Government has undertaken significant consultation to ensure Tasmanian sportspeople are afforded appropriate protection in their workplace.

The Government’s amendments will enable professional sportspeople to initiate legal action for negligence by removing the reference to “sport” in the definition of “recreational activity”.

These reforms are a result of a change in the interpretation of the law following a recent NSW Appeal Court decision.

The interpretation created sweeping changes to the common law rights of many Australians, and could prevent many professional sportspeople from seeking damages for negligence.

These changes deliver on the Government’s commitment to ensure professional sportspeople can be compensated under the law for substantial physical injuries that come about when a duty of care is breached.

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