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- 25 June 2003
Fairfield Harness Racing Club
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Page: 2158
Mr TRIPODI (Fairfield—Parliamentary Secretary) [6.08 p.m.]: I draw to the attention of the House an issue relating to Fairfield Harness Racing Club. Last week I referred to a decision by Harness Racing New South Wales to draw up a list of targeted racetracks for closure. I have finally got my hands on a strategic plan which was put together by Harness Racing New South Wales, in which it has flagged plans for the closure of a range of tracks, including the track at Fairfield. I have read the document quickly. I cannot understand how Harness Racing New South Wales has come to its decision. I thought that the document would set out clear financial, economic and commercial criteria and offer an explanation as to the basis on which the decisions were made. Rather, the document, which seeks industry comment, contains a list of tracks proposed to be amalgamated or closed.
I have already raised in the House my concerns about the impact of the closure of Fairfield track on my local community. I have spoken about the track's historical significance and how highly the sport is regarded in our community. I have also brought to the attention of the House the lack of consultation that has occurred to date. However, I am pleased that we finally have a document that seeks industry comment. Of particular interest to me are a couple of paragraphs in the executive summary of the document which state:
The available TAB race dates are spread across too many locations to deliver the best result to the industry. The Board has determined that the key to maximising turnover and reducing costs is to consolidate the available TAB race dates and allocate to them to best advantage across fewer locations.
I understand that the Fairfield track does well in terms of TAB turnover. If it is suggested that TAB turnover is an indication of the commercial criteria employed in making this decision, Fairfield cannot objectively be seen as appropriate for closure. It is important that in assessing the commercial success of these competing tracks we determine which have received government support in the past. I understand that the Fairfield track has not received any government or industry support for many years. Some of the other tracks have received direct assistance from the industry fund or interest-free loans from the Government, the fund or other sources. Fairfield has remained profitable and has received no assistance for many years.
A unilateral decision appears to have been made. There has been a pretence of consultation, because the document suggests that the decision has already been made despite the fact that we have been led to believe that we have a chance to reverse the decision. I have spoken to people and people have written to me about this issue. It is only fair to harness racing in New South Wales that those making the decision at least come to the Fairfield track to listen to the people affected before a decision is made. Those making the decision should be directly accountable, just as politicians would be expected to front up to a community affected by a government decision. That is a fair part of the consultation process.
What criteria have been used to make these decisions? As I mentioned previously, I am concerned that a unilateral decision has been made or that people have ganged up and decided which tracks they like and which they do not. I am also concerned that this situation is a result of politics in the industry rather than an objective process to make sensible, justifiable and accountable decisions. The people who have made these decisions should face the people at the Fairfield harness racing track, listen to their concerns and specify the economic basis for the decision. I would also like to know which tracks have been subsidised either by the Government or the industry in the past eight years or longer to establish whether they have been propped up by the Government while Fairfield has progressed independent of government.
Mr GAUDRY (Newcastle—Parliamentary Secretary) [6.13 p.m.]: I thank the member for Fairfield for raising this issue again. I heard his contribution last week and once again he is obviously standing up for his community. This takes me back to the privatisation of the Totalisator Agency Board [TAB] and the commercialisation of the racing industry, whether that is flat tracks, harness racing or greyhounds. They are all commercial activities but they also provide great social activities. I well understand the feelings of a community when this type of thing happens. My electorate has suffered the loss of a dog racing track, but it still has a good harness racing track. These facilities create a great deal of social interest and commercial activity. The honourable member has appropriately invited representatives of Harness Racing New South Wales to justify the economics behind the decision. I thank him for raising the matter in this House.
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