Dr WOODRUFF question to PREMIER, Mr ROCKLIFF
In his report titled ‘The Financing of Greyhound Racing in Tasmania’, independent economist Saul Eslake confirms what we have long known – ‘Tasmania is throwing good money after bad’, he said, ‘to massively subsidise greyhound racing.’ In the decade to 2022, attendance has declined by 37 per cent and each job sustained by the industry cost 91 per cent more. Tasmanians spend $12.57 per person on greyhound racing, more than double the national average. We are Australia’s poorest state, with a crippling debt and cuts across government services, and you are prioritising life support for this so‑called industry.
Will you admit it is time to end taxpayer funding for this cruel industry and redirect funds to health, housing and education, all of which produce a greater return on investment to the people of Tasmania? Instead of privatising GBEs, why do not you just stop pouring tens of millions of dollars every year into a loss‑making stinker like Tasracing?
The SPEAKER – The member’s time for asking the question has expired.
ANSWER
Honourable Speaker, I thank the member for the question.
Dr Woodruff – It is a pleasure.
Mr ROCKLIFF – We are investing $10 million a day into health, $9.9 billion over four years into education, $14.5 billion dollars over four years into our health system, and investing in other areas of priority including community safety, police resources, and other important matters. I do not want you to characterise in terms of priorities that we are not prioritising the matters that concern Tasmanians. This budget is all about ensuring that we are delivering that for now and into the future, that we are investing in cost of living and investing in those services for Tasmanians.
When it comes to racing more generally, the investment and the reforms we have made in the integrity provisions of racing have been considerable. Integrity will be the bedrock of the Tasmanian racing industry as it grows and continues to make a positive contribution to our community. With respect to the question at hand, the information that I have – and I was Racing minister for four years, so I have a good understanding of the racing industry and a good understanding of the racing industry having continuous improvement when it comes to animal welfare standards and integrity provision around wagering, which is so very important.
There is no denying the fact that the contribution of racing more broadly is over $200 million in economic activity for Tasmania and involves just shy of 6500 people across the state.
I do not like and I disagree with the characterization about investing in education and investing in health. In fact, we will have 100 per cent of our school resourcing standard coming to effect next year with our new bilateral agreement with the federal government, whereas Victoria, for example, will not reach 100 per cent until into the 2030s, if my information is recalled correctly.
It is important to know the context, that the vast majority of the funding provided to the Greyhound Code is funded by commercial revenues. The Greyhound Code directly generates revenue outside the deed, which has increased by about 130 per cent over the past five years via mechanisms such as race field fees, media rights and sponsorship. I recall –
The SPEAKER – The Premier’s time for answering the question has expired.
SUPPLEMENTARY QUESTION
Dr WOODRUFF – A supplementary question, Speaker?
The SPEAKER – I will hear the supplementary.
Dr WOODRUFF – The Premier talked about the investment in health and education and so on, and the costs of that. Do you accept the EMRS polling that shows that the majority of Tasmanians, over 70 per cent, do not want public subsidising of the greyhound industry, and that it would be better to spend our precious resources on health and education services, which are being cut by your government?
The SPEAKER – I am not convinced that is a supplementary question, but you do have that statement on record now.
