Media Statements - Minister names racing industry review panel

10/11/00

Gavin Fielding, the Senior Commissioner of the Western Australian Industrial Relations Commission, will head the independent, four-member Racing Industry Review Committee.

Racing and Gaming Minister Norman Moore announced the appointment today.

Mr Moore said the other members of the panel would be lawyer Tony Di Francesco, former educator Margaret Nadebaum and former Town and Country Bank chief Ray Turner.

Mr Moore said Mr Fielding had been senior commissioner since 1996 and brought a wealth of experience to the committee.

He led the State Government inquiry into soccer and his main sporting interests are cricket and football.

Tony Di Francesco is a partner at the law firm of Ilbery Barblett, is a director of Perth Glory and has a keen interest in sports law.

Margaret Nadebaum is a member of the Gaming Commission of Western Australia and is a former chief executive officer of the WA Ministry of Education and a former principal of Methodist Ladies’ College in Claremont.

Ray Turner was general manager of Town and Country WA Building Society for 10 years before becoming managing director of Town and Country Bank from 1984-1997. He is president and former treasurer of the WA Golf Association and the West Coast Eagles No. 1 ticket holder from 1999-2000.

Mr Moore said the terms of reference were to inquire into and report on all aspects of the thoroughbred, trotting and greyhound racing industry in WA, including the role and structure of the TAB.

He had asked the members to report their findings and conclusions as soon as practicable. He hoped this would be within
12 months.

The review was aimed at ensuring the viability and long-term future of the racing industry in WA and would look at such issues as the impact of privatisation of the TABs in the Eastern States, technology, product delivery mechanisms, the GST and social trends on the racing industry.

The future of bookmakers and their contribution, inter and intra-code distribution of TAB profits, together with the contribution Government receives from the racing industry, were also critical issues.

Mr Moore also said he hoped to distribute the first funding grants to areas of need in the racing industry before the end of the year.

“Representative bodies of the racing industry will be invited to send me submissions for funding assistance which they will be responsible for distributing,” he said.

“I will ask the Racecourse Development Trust to review the submissions and advise me accordingly.”

The Minister said the racing industry would be aware that as an interim measure, he was proceeding with amendments to the Totalisator Agency Board Betting Act 1960 in the current session of State Parliament to:

fix the annual distribution of the first $50 million of Totalisator Agency Board profits to the Western Australian Turf Club, the Western Australian Trotting Association and the Western Australian Greyhound Racing Authority in the ratio of: WATC, 55.26 per cent; WATA, 29.76 per cent, WAGRA, 14.98 per cent;

distribute the TAB profits in excess of $50 million in such a manner and subject to such conditions as the Minister directs;

prescribe the purposes for which monies paid by ministerial direction to thoroughbred, trotting and greyhound racing clubs may be used;

limit to $1.5 million the amount of discretionary funds the Minister for Racing and Gaming can distribute; and -

insert a sunset clause to end the Minister’s discretion from August 1, 2002.

Media contact: Hartley Joynt, Minister’s office, 9321 1444