Racing Integrity Bill 2015

Opposed the bill as deputy chair of the committee, citing the department's lack of consultation with industry stakeholders, uncosted implementation, and concerns that the inquiry into greyhound cruelty was being used to overhaul all three racing codes.

“I have formed my own position that the bill should not be passed.”— 2016-04-21View Hansard

As Minister for Racing, moved the second reading, arguing the bill was essential to restore public confidence after the greyhound live-baiting scandal by creating an independent Racing Integrity Commission to separate integrity and animal welfare functions from Racing Queensland's commercial operations.

“The greyhound live-baiting scandal showed that Queensland's previous racing integrity regime had failed. It could not prevent sickening acts of animal cruelty in the greyhound racing industry that so outraged Queenslanders and it could not prevent other suspected illegal activities in the wider racing industry.”— 2016-04-20View Hansard

Expressed concern that the thoroughbred and harness racing industries were unfairly caught up in legislation prompted by greyhound industry cruelty, and argued country racing needed greater recognition and support.

“I feel sorry that the thoroughbred racing industry has been mixed up in this inquiry.”— 2016-04-21View Hansard

Opposed the bill as LNP shadow minister, arguing the government had failed to consult the racing industry, refused to reveal the cost of the new Racing Integrity Commission, improperly expanded a greyhound inquiry to cover all three codes, and was restructuring the board to deliberately reduce industry representation.

“How can government members opposite support a bill when the parliamentary committee made up of government, opposition and crossbench members makes such a damning criticism in its report? There it is in black and white—no consultation of the very people that this bill affects.”— 2016-04-20View Hansard

Supported the bill as necessary to address the failure of self-regulation in the racing industry, arguing the new Racing Integrity Commission would restore public confidence and that concerns about prize money and race days were unrelated to the bill.

“If Queensland's racing industry is going to continue to grow and prosper, it will only happen if the community has absolute confidence in the racing board and the integrity commission.”— 2016-04-21View Hansard

Supported the bill as committee chair and racing industry participant, arguing that separating integrity from commercial functions would strengthen the industry and that increased powers for authorised officers were needed to protect racing animals from welfare breaches.

“All punters expect the greyhound, harness or thoroughbred that they bet on to have an equal chance of winning on a level playing field, including the way the animals are trained and the way they are raced.”— 2016-04-20View Hansard

Opposed the bill as a gross overreaction to the greyhound live-baiting scandal, arguing the government had punished the entire racing industry rather than dealing decisively with the greyhound code, and criticised the proposed board structure and lack of costings.

“This bill should be opposed because of its lack of information concerning costing and its complete lack of consultation with the industry.”— 2016-04-21View Hansard

Opposed the bill due to lack of confidence in the government's stewardship of the racing industry, arguing the government had shattered industry confidence and the LNP had rebuilt country racing during its term.

“I will be opposing this bill because I have no confidence in the stewardship of this government in the racing industry.”— 2016-04-21View Hansard

Supported the bill as necessary to protect animal welfare and provide integrity and confidence to the racing industry, arguing the status quo of self-regulation could not continue if the industry was to grow and thrive.

“The status quo cannot continue if this industry is going to continue to grow, thrive with confidence and have the confidence of the community.”— 2016-04-21View Hansard

Opposed the bill, citing concerns raised by the Gold Coast Turf Club about broad disciplinary powers, the unknown cost burden on the industry, and the lack of consultation with stakeholders.

“As I said, I will not be able to support this bill.”— 2016-04-21View Hansard

Opposed the bill due to lack of costings and complete lack of consultation with the industry, emphasising the critical social and economic importance of country racing to regional and Western Queensland communities.

“We will be opposing the bill because of a lack of information on costings and a complete lack of consultation with the industry.”— 2016-04-21View Hansard

Opposed the bill, arguing the government's response to the greyhound live-baiting scandal was a gross overreaction that unfairly targeted the thoroughbred breeding industry in his electorate, and criticised the lack of industry consultation.

“The racing community of Condamine and Queensland need certainty around their industry and this bill does nothing to appease people's fears. I will be opposing this bill.”— 2016-04-21View Hansard

Supported the bill as an essential response to the greyhound live-baiting scandal, commending the government's swift action and arguing the new Racing Integrity Commission would eliminate conflicts of interest between commercial interests and animal welfare.

“Once enacted, the Racing Integrity Bill will provide certainty to participants in the industry about their requirements. It will also restore public confidence in the racing industry.”— 2016-04-21View Hansard

Opposed the bill, arguing the government had hijacked the greyhound cruelty issue to attack all racing codes, tarring honest participants with the same brush and devastating livelihoods across the industry.

“What is not acceptable is the way that this Labor government has hijacked an issue involving the disgusting actions of some terrible individuals in the greyhound racing industry and utilised that as some sort of feeble excuse to rip apart every racing code in Queensland.”— 2016-04-21View Hansard

Supported the bill, arguing the government had taken a conservative, evidence-based approach by putting integrity first for the long-term security of the industry.

“All of us in this House value the racing industry. We on this side have looked at the evidence. We have taken a conservative approach: integrity first for the security of the industry.”— 2016-04-21View Hansard

Opposed the bill as a sledgehammer to smash a walnut, arguing the thoroughbred industry was unfairly punished for greyhound industry failings and criticising the proposed board structure that gave thoroughbred racing only 14 per cent representation despite comprising 80 per cent of the industry.

“The bottom line is: this bill before the House is the result of the greyhound industry and its disgusting behaviour in relation to live baiting, which all members in this House would say is totally unacceptable. What did the Labor Party do? With a very small minority ... they took a sledgehammer to smash a walnut in terms of bashing up on the thoroughbred industry.”— 2016-04-21View Hansard

Opposed the bill, arguing it was drafted without consultation, had uncosted implementation that breached the Legislative Standards Act, and criticised the minister for attacking all three racing codes over an issue originating in the greyhound industry.

“The racing industry does not deserve this sort of treatment. This bill is not the result of consultation with the industry. This bill has shattered the confidence of the racing industry and must not be allowed to be passed.”— 2016-04-21View Hansard

Supported the bill as necessary to restore public confidence in the racing industry, highlighting the Capalaba Greyhound Racing Club in his electorate and arguing the new commission would provide proper complaint resolution and ensure wrongdoers are identified early.

“The new management provisions in the bill are based on the recommendations of the commission of inquiry and will restore public confidence in the industry and ensure the continued viability of clubs such as the Capalaba Greyhound Racing Club.”— 2016-04-21View Hansard

Opposed the bill as a disaster for the racing industry and country racing in particular, arguing it was inconsiderate and uninformed about thoroughbred racing and was drafted with little or no consultation, and called on members not to pass it.

“It is imperative that the racing industry bill before this parliament does not pass in its current or amended form. If it does it spells disaster for the entire industry.”— 2016-04-21View Hansard

Opposed the bill as rushed and ill-thought-through, arguing it would devastate the racing industry and cost jobs, and cited the Toowoomba Turf Club chairman's criticism that the government was destroying what the industry had worked to achieve.

“This bill has been rushed. What it proposes will be devastating for the industry, which will cost jobs and cause great discomfort to people in the industry.”— 2016-04-21View Hansard

Opposed the bill as flawed legislation with no consultation, emphasising the importance of country racing as a social institution for regional and rural Queensland communities and criticising the lack of industry representation on the proposed board.

“This is a flawed piece of legislation. I will not be supporting it. It is an insult to the industry. There has been no consultation. It is disgraceful.”— 2016-04-21View Hansard

Strongly supported the bill as former racing minister, arguing the MacSporran inquiry found self-regulation had completely failed and the LNP's legacy of financial mismanagement and structural failures had created the problems the bill now addressed.

“This government has acted at every point in order to give confidence. We have underwritten the industry for an extended period from when we appointed administrators and we intend to underwrite the industry essentially for another two years at least.”— 2016-04-21View Hansard

Opposed the bill due to lack of genuine stakeholder input, arguing the proposed governance structure would see decisions made by individuals with inadequate industry knowledge and criticising the failure to provide cost details.

“I oppose this legislation due to the fact that this bill has had no genuine stakeholder input.”— 2016-04-21View Hansard

Supported the bill as crucial to restoring public confidence in the racing industry, citing the MacSporran report's findings of failed self-regulation and conflicts of interest, and rebutted opposition claims about costs and country racing impacts.

“Without that confidence, people do not wager, they do not participate and they do not bother to reinvest. You get people drifting away and a frittering away of employment opportunities.”— 2016-04-21View Hansard

Opposed the bill as flawed, arguing it was a heavy-handed political campaign that tarred all racing codes with the same suspicion as the greyhound industry and would introduce an expensive bureaucratic board with little industry input.

“It is seriously concerning that the committee investigating the bill raised concerns and flagged many possible amendments on every recommendation. This can leave no doubt that the bill is flawed and it should not be passed.”— 2016-04-21View Hansard

Opposed the bill, arguing country racing clubs had already been cut to the bone and the proposed board structure would lack understanding of rural and regional Queensland, supporting QRUG's call to withdraw the bill and start an inclusive consultation process.

“Even though it sounds good and appears to have good intentions, the reality for the people in the bush is that the country racing industry feels that this is damnation to them.”— 2016-04-21View Hansard

Opposed the bill, arguing the proposed board lacked sufficient industry representation and experience, that the issue was confined to greyhounds and did not justify restructuring the entire racing industry, and that the government needed to go back to the drawing board.

“Changes have to be made. We have to go back to the drawing board and talk to these people. That is how good sustainable development happens.”— 2016-04-21View Hansard

Opposed the bill as deficient and rushed, arguing the integrity commission would add another layer of bureaucracy to an industry already on its knees and criticising the lack of consultation and the proposed board structure.

“This bill before the House is deficient and obviously needs a lot more work before it meets the needs of our racing codes in Queensland. It was rushed and ill-conceived, and I cannot support it in its current form.”— 2016-04-21View Hansard

Defended the bill in reply as Minister for Racing, arguing the MacSporran inquiry had extensively consulted the industry and found self-regulation had failed, that the government was fully funding the integrity commission at no additional cost to the industry, and that separating integrity from commercial operations would allow Racing Queensland to focus on growing the industry.

“I say to the industry: if you are doing nothing wrong, you have nothing to fear. However, if you persist in animal cruelty or in abusing the integrity of this industry, you will be caught and you will be dealt with.”— 2016-04-21View Hansard