Dr WOODRUFF – Minister, I want to understand what happens when the new legislation comes into place with the Tasmanian Greyhound Local Rules of Racing. When there’s no longer a Director of Racing in the Office of Racing and Integrity, will there no longer be a requirement to rehome greyhounds in the way that it is currently set out in the Local Rules of Racing?
Ms HOWLETT – I thank Dr Woodruff for her question. There absolutely will be a rehoming policy through the new structure. I’ll hand you over to the deputy secretary to add more information to that.
Dr WOODRUFF – To be clear, I’m talking about the space between when the legislation gets royal assent and when the final system is established, what will happen to the local rules of racing as they stand on rehoming? Will it be an independent person who decides the fate of greyhounds?
Ms WILSON – Through the minister, we need to have in place the statutory office holders before the act is in place. The act will receive royal assent but it’s it will come into play upon proclamation. We have a transition team who are working through all the aspects of the transition, including matters such as the regulations, the rules of racing. The aim is that it flips on the day it’s turned on into the new regime. That is the plan.
Dr WOODRUFF – On that day when it receives proclamation, ORI ceases to exist and the stewards move across to Tasracing and you’re saying that there will be absolutely no gap at all in the period until proclamation after royal assent there will be the same situation in place in terms of ORI remaining and being responsible for decisions about ending the lives of greyhounds that are surplus to the industry and that there is great pressure for them to be euthanised more quickly.
Ms HOWLETT – Thank you, Dr Woodruff, for your important question. There will be a transitional phase-in process. I’d like to hand over to Anita Yan and also thank her for her incredible work that she’s been doing in relation to this. I’ll ask her to speak to your question.
Ms YAN – Through you, minister. Yes, we do have a transition project that’s established that will consider all matters relating to the implementation of the new bill. That will include a number of matters including the appointments as the minister has mentioned before. Until those appointments are made, the operations and responsibility will remain with the Office of Racing Integrity.
Dr WOODRUFF – When will it flip over and what’s your expected timeframe or the expected date, through you to Anita, and who will the new statutory officer be?
Ms HOWLETT – I wish I knew. Thank you, Dr Woodruff, for your question. I’ll talk very briefly before I refer to Anita on that. As I mentioned, we are well underway in recruiting for the Tasmanian Racing Integrity Commissioner. I’m not involved, but I believe there are interviews being conducted next week and the following week. How long that will take to implement? I would hope to have someone here by the beginning of November. I believe the three people who are being interviewed are interstate, so we would need to allow for relocation, et cetera, as well for those people. I’ll hand you over to Anita to speak more to that.
Ms YAN – Through you, minister, the appointments will also be subject to notice periods. We are endeavouring to make those appointments as soon as possible in addition to the new commissioner will also have the appointments to the Racing Integrity Committee and we are going through an expression of interest process and interviews for that. Tasracing is also in the process of recruiting the chief racing integrity officer (the CRIO), and the department’s also working with the Office of Parliamentary Counsel to remake and update the regulations. We’re endeavouring to make those as soon as possible, but those appointments will be subject to the successful candidates’ availability.
Dr WOODRUFF – You think November, but that may not actually happen in November. Confirmation may need to be later than that because a person will need to be in place. That’s what you’re waiting for?
Ms HOWLETT – What is today – 25 September? So, Anita, if interviews are next week or the week after, when would you have thought?
Dr WOODRUFF – Maybe next year.
Ms HOWLETT – I would certainly hope not.
Dr WOODRUFF – It would depend on when a person is available to take up that position.
CHAIR – Last question.
Ms HOWLETT – I certainly hope not next year, Dr Woodruff. That’s not my target. I’ll hand over to Anita to speak a little bit more to that question, because it is a very important question.
Ms YAN – Yes, we are working to have those appointments in place as soon as we can, but there is a process that has to be followed.
