Dr WOODRUFF – I will ask another question that perhaps you’ll answer in relation to the racing deed media release that you mentioned just then in your opening statement about the assessment for funding beyond 2029 being considered. Why should taxpayers be on the hook for decades more of funding to Tasracing to enable animal cruelty?
Ms HOWLETT – In 2009 the sale of the TOTE created – the funding deed was then created for 20 years. The funding deed runs out in June 2029. Treasury, Tasracing and the Department of NRE have been working on a new deed for the certainty of the industry. Both myself and the Premier have been very clear that we are very supportive of the broader racing community. And as I said, work has started on the new funding date.
Dr WOODRUFF – Do you recognise –
CHAIR – Sorry, Dr Woodruff, you’ve had three questions.
Dr WOODRUFF – I asked you at the start about if you had been subject to any Supreme Court matters or had any legal fees covered by the taxpayer in the last 18 months. You refused to answer both those questions and I want to give you one more chance to answer them. All your other colleagues have done that and I note that even minister Ogilvie admitted that she had had legal fees covered.
Minister, one more time: will you do what everyone else has done and let people know whether you’ve been subject to any Supreme Court matters, and if you’ve had any taxpayer-funded legal expenses covered?
Ms HOWLETT – As I said, I don’t think this is relevant to the output group in budget Estimates. I made my answer perfectly clear before.
Dr WOODRUFF – I’ll move on to a question then again about 2029 and the media release you put out about the racing assessment of funding options for the racing industry beyond 2029 for the two remaining codes. You would be well aware of the Greens position that there should be no public money going into supporting the racing industry. That’s our position. However, would you at least commit to Tasmanians that there would be, after 2029, less money going to racing, or even better, that the proportion of funding that has previously been allocated to greyhound racing in the last financial year, that was at least $7 million, would not go to harness and thoroughbred racing after 2029?
Ms HOWLETT – No, I certainly won’t be making that commitment.
Dr WOODRUFF – There could be a continuation of the same amount of funding that’s been going to the three codes after 2029 that would go to maintaining two codes?
Ms HOWLETT – That is something Treasury will be working through while they’re currently working on the deed.
Dr WOODRUFF – Even in a cost-of-living and budget crisis that we have?
Ms HOWLETT – We’re looking at year 2029.
Dr WOODRUFF – Yes, it’s going to be worse then.
CHAIR – Dr Woodruff, thank you.
