Output 7 & 8
OUTPUT GROUP 7
SUPPORT FOR THE MINISTER IN INFRASTRUCTURE DEVELOPMENT AND BUSINESS MANAGEMENT
The Department provides the Minister for Infrastructure, Energy and Resources with advice on forest policy and mining infrastructure projects.
Key clients
The major client of this Output Group is the Minister for Infrastructure, Energy and Resources.
How this Output Group is delivered
This Output Group is delivered by Departmental officers in liaison with industry and other Government departments, business enterprises, statutory authorities and State Owned Companies (SOCs).
Achievements Against Strategies Identified for 2003/04
The Department has a lead role in overseeing the implementation of the Regional Forest Agreement (RFA) and the five-year review of implementation of the RFA. The Resource Planning and Development Commission completed the first review in December 2002. Implementation of the Commission’s recommendations is underway.
The Forest Policy Unit has continued to provide high level strategic advice to the Minister and Secretary on a range of resource-related policy initiatives of governments, including support to the Ministerial Council and its Standing Committee on Primary Industries, the Forests and Forest Industry Council, the review of the Permanent Forest Estate Policy, Tasmania Together, forestry-related legislation and natural resource management.
The Forest Policy Unit has continued to work with the Local Government Forestry Consultative Committee on forestry issues of relevance to local government. The Committee is addressing issues relating to planning, transport, water and social issues. In particular, the Department completed the 2003 Rural Land Use Trends in Tasmania Report in consultation with local government, the Department of Primary Industries, Water and Environment and Private Forests Tasmania.
Officers in this Output Group facilitated the implementation of the Forestry Fair Contracts Code 2003, prepared under the Forestry (Fair Contracts Code) Act 2001. The Department continued to chair meetings of the industry working group that provides recommendations to the Minister on matters concerning the Code.
The Department supported the Minister for Infrastructure, Energy and Resources' initiative in the marketing of the State's rich mineral resource. In cooperation with the Department of Economic Development, meetings have been held in all the capital cities that were visited last year, following up on contact made at the time and meeting potential new exploration companies. A CD has been marketed widely as it provides links to the new data from Mineral Resources Tasmania though the Tasmanian Information on Geoscience and Exploration Resources (TIGER) program. Although the CD has as its main focus the mining development potential of the State, links are included to a wide range of other available resources, including the Infrastructure and Resource Information Service (IRIS).
OUTPUT GROUP 8
SUPPORT FOR RACING INDUSTRY
The focus of this Output Group is the regulation and direction of horse racing, greyhound racing and betting by and with bookmakers. Racing Services Tasmania administers the Racing Act 1983, and those sections of the Racing Regulation Act 1952 relating to racing and bookmaker betting activities, in order to maintain the probity and integrity of the racing industry.
Outputs within this Group include:
administering, on behalf of the Tasmanian Thoroughbred Racing Council, Tasmanian Harness Racing Council and Tasmanian Greyhound Racing Council (as constituted under the Racing Act 1983):
registration and licensing of persons engaged or employed in connection with the racing industry;
registration of horses and greyhounds for the purposes of horse racing and greyhound racing; and
registration of all other matters as required by the Rules of Racing
ensuring that horse and greyhound racing, and race related activities, are conducted in a safe and fair manner
registering race clubs and racecourses
registering bookmakers and their clerks
industry training (supervising, coordinating and setting standards in respect of the training and welfare of apprentice jockeys, junior drivers and other persons)
providing administrative support for the Tasmanian Racing Appeal Board
providing policy advice to Government
monitoring compliance with legislation and Rules of Racing
Appropriate performance measures have been developed in conjunction with the whole of DIER and the implementation of the Divisional Plan, and commence for the 2004/05 reporting period.
Key clients
Key clients include Government, code councils, race clubs, industry bodies and participants, and the Tasmanian Racing Appeal Board.
How this Output Group is delivered
The Outputs are delivered through the efforts of the Division’s officers in close consultation with the code councils, TOTE Tasmania, race clubs and industry representative bodies. There is also regular liaison with other Divisions of the Department and relevant Government agencies.
Achievements Against Strategies Identified for 2003/04
Appropriate Regulatory Framework
The primary strategy identified for this issue was the repeal and replacement of the current legislation. The Racing Regulation Act 1952 (formerly the Racing and Gaming Act 1952) contains a variety of regulatory approaches that have been implemented and amended over a period of almost 50 years. It is difficult to interpret, which directly affects the day-to-day activities of a wide range of industry participants.
A detailed review of the Act was completed and new legislation tabled in the House of Assembly on 28 October 2003. However, this was subsequently withdrawn pending the outcome of a proposed administrative restructure of the Tasmanian racing industry.
Integrity Control in the Racing Industry
A drop in the level of integrity control would result in a loss of confidence in Tasmanian racing, which in turn would have an adverse effect on industry income streams.
Stipendiary stewards are at the front line in ensuring the probity of racing operations. They need a wide range of skills in order to carry out the many facets of their role. Traditionally, all training for stewards has been provided on-the-job. As there are currently no formal training courses available elsewhere, officers of the Division utilise a training program developed in-house.
Racing Services Tasmania, in cooperation with TAFE Tasmania, has begun development of a competency-based stewards’ training package.
The introduction of a training package in no way reflects on the competency of existing stewards, but will provide them with a qualification that recognises current skills as well as establishing a formal training program for new stewards.
This training program is likely to be the forerunner of a national training package, which is considered a high priority by Racing Training Australia.
Vocational Training Opportunities for Racing Industry Personnel
Racing Training Tasmania [RTT] is an advisory body to the Director of Racing in the discharge of his responsibilities pursuant to Section 5(3)(b) of the Racing Act 1983 in relation to industry training. RTT comprises representatives from two of the three code councils, Industry Training Advisory Board, TAFE Tasmania, Office of Post Compulsory Education and Training, and TOTE Tasmania.
Issues currently being examined by RTT include the implementation of the recently revised Racing Industry Training Package; the development of a stewards’ training package; examining options for the recruitment, employment and training of apprentice jockeys; and occupational health and safety training.
RTT continues to be represented at a national level through its membership on the Board of Racing Training Australia and, from July 2004, on the newly created Racing Standing Committee of the AGRI-Food Skills Council. Such national representation provides an important means of keeping abreast of developments in racing training.
Through this involvement at the national level, RTT has been chosen to host the Racing Training Australia National Conference in early September 2004. The theme for the Conference will be ‘training and employment in the racing industry’ and it will bring together racing industry administrators and training providers from all over Australia.
Additional Achievements for 2003/04
Industry Restructure
A discussion paper on a proposed restructure of the Tasmanian racing industry was presented to the industry on 23 April 2004. The main feature was the absolute split between integrity and commercial responsibilities.
Under the proposed model, all integrity matters would become the responsibility of Racing Services Tasmania. All commercial matters would become the responsibility of the TOTE Tasmania Board and a newly created Tasmanian Racing Board.
The first phase of the consultative process sought written submissions from interested parties. Twenty-six submissions were received by the closing date of 4 June.
The second phase of the consultative process is currently underway. Issues arising from the submissions received are being fully reviewed prior to any final decision being made by the Government.
Racing Services Tasmania has had an integral role in the above process, particularly as it relates to the integrity aspects of the proposal, consulting with various industry bodies at both a state and national level. Should the proposal result in changes to the existing structure of the industry, Racing Services Tasmania will be responsible for developing the necessary legislative framework.
STATISTICAL INFORMATION
BOOKMAKERS
There were 16 bookmakers registered during the 2003/04 racing season, including four partnerships. Two bookmaking operations were licensed to conduct on-course telephone betting.
| Bookmakers Holdings | |||
| 2003/04 | 2002/03 | ||
| (1/7/03-30/6/04) | (1/7/02-30/6/03) | Variation | |
| No of Race Meetings | 209 | 210 | |
| Local Holdings | $2,937,482 | $3,085,290 | -5% |
| Mainland Holdings | $1,486,970 | $1,374,977 | 8% |
| Total Holdings | $4,424,452 | $4,460,267 | -1% |
LICENSING AND REGISTRATION
| Licences Issued | |||
| 2003/2004 | 2002/2003 | 2001/2002 | |
| (1/8/03-31/7/04) | (1/8/02-31/7/03) | (1/8/01-31/7/02) | |
| Thoroughbred | |||
| Trainers (All Categories) | 128 | 143 | 133 |
| Jockeys (All Categories) | 29 | 30 | 26 |
| Apprentice Jockeys | 9 | 10 | 10 |
| Stable Employees* | 252 | 274 | |
| - Stable Foremen | 39 | 31 | |
| - Stable Hands | 80 | 130 | |
| - Trackwork Riders | 112 | 94 | |
| - Farriers | 21 | 19 | |
| Harness | |||
| Trainers | 131 | 125 | 144 |
| Drivers | 37 | 39 | 40 |
| Trainer /Drivers | 108 | 107 | 119 |
| Stablehands* | 107 | 96 | |
| Greyhound | |||
| Owners | 163 | 157 | 144 |
| Trainers | 235 | 244 | 264 |
| Attendants | 79 | 76 | 77 |
| Catchers | 56 | 52 | 53 |
| Syndicates* | 23 | 24 |
* Recording of separate statistics commenced 1/8/02
| Registrations Processed | |||
| 2003/2004 | 2002/2003 | 2001/2002 | |
| (1/8/03-31/7/04) | (1/8/02-31/7/03) | (1/8/01-31/7/02) | |
| Thoroughbred | |||
| Namings | 296 | 315 | 289 |
| Harness | |||
| Namings | 196 | 179 | 198 |
| Breeding Services | 259 | 336 | 252 |
| Greyhound | |||
| Namings | 255 | 396 | 239 |
| Breeding Services | 153 | 139 | 132 |
TASMANIAN RACING APPEAL BOARD
| Appeals | ||||
| 2003/2004 | 2002/2003 | 2001/2002 | ||
| (1/8/03-31/7/04) | (1/8/02-31/7/03) | (1/8/01-31/7/02) | ||
| Notices of Appeal Lodged: | 34(1) | 14(2) | 24(1) | 24(1) |
| - Thoroughbred | 10 | 5 | 8 | 8 |
| - Harness | 18(1) | 8 | 9 | 9 |
| - Greyhound | 6 | 1 | 7 | 7 |
| Appeals Withdrawn | 3 | 2 | 4(1) | 4(1) |
| Appeals Pending | 2 | 1 | 2 | 2 |
| Appeals not within Jurisdiction / Incompetent | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 |
| Appeals Determined | 28(1) | 10(2) | 17 | 17 |
| - Allowed in full (conviction quashed) | 5 | 0 | 4 | 4 |
| - Allowed in part (penalty reduced or varied) | 8 | 4(2) | 4 | 4 |
| - Dismissed | 15(1) | 6 | 9 | 9 |
| Applications - Stay of Proceedings: | 24 | 13 | 17 | 17 |
| - Granted | 19 | 10 | 15 | 15 |
| - Declined | 5 | 3 | 2 | 2 |
| Legal Representation at Appeal Hearings | ||||
| - Stewards | 7 | 2(1) | 5 | 5 |
| - Appellant | 5 | 5(1) | 6 | 6 |
| Appeal Deposits Withheld | 1 | 0 | 2 | 2 |
* Figures in ( ) brackets indicate appeals lodged in the previous season but dealt with in subsequent reporting period.
