Securing Integrity Future of Tasmania Racing Industry

Madeleine Ogilvie,Minister for Racing

Probity and integrity are critically important in the racing industry and they ensure confidence in all three codes in the state – thoroughbred, harness, and greyhounds.

Our Government has led the way by commissioning independent racing expert Dale Montieth to review the Racing Regulation Act 2004 and the broader racing integrity model in Tasmania.

Today, we are pleased to release the independent review into Tasmania’s Racing Regulation Act 2004 and indicate the Governments in principal support for the recommendations including:

*Creating a Tasmanian Racing Integrity Commissioner with powers to set integrity and animal welfare standards and comprehensive audit, compliance and investigatory functions;

*Enhancing integrity governance within Tasracing, with Tasracing to become operationally responsible for all three Codes of racing and pre-race day and race day management, including Stewards and animal daily animal welfare; and

*Providing a role for the RSPCA in animal welfare and retaining the power for independent investigation of animal welfare matters.

To support the progression of this important work, the Government will provide $200,000 towards implementation.

Mr Monteith led an extensive review consultation, meeting with 50 individual stakeholders and assessing 31 written submissions addressing the Discussion Paper.

I would like to thank Mr Monteith and the many industry members and stakeholders who engaged with him through the extensive and comprehensive review process.

The Government will soon release a detailed response to each of the recommendations in the report, and we look forward to progressing this new chapter for racing integrity, probity, and animal welfare in Tasmania.

/Public Release. View in full here.