EQUINE INFLUENZA

Mr HAMILTON-SMITH (Waite—Leader of the Opposition) (14:23): What immediate steps will the Minister for Recreation, Sport and Racing take to address the looming crisis resulting from multimillion dollar losses incurred by the racing industry as a result of the equine flu virus? The opposition understands that reduced TAB turnover has resulted in lost revenue to local racing of more than $1 million so far. The industry advises us that it has also incurred additional costs with respect to security vaccinations and the loss of interstate racing opportunities. The minister has promised in the past to give tax relief to racing if it complied with the Bentley reforms, but they are yet to materialise. The opposition understands that a one-off request for emergency funding support of $3 million has been made to the government by the racing industry.

The Hon. M.J. WRIGHT (Lee—Minister for Industrial Relations, Minister for Finance, Minister for Government Enterprises, Minister for Recreation, Sport and Racing) (14:23): I am not so sure that the last comment is right. However, I stand to be corrected. Yesterday I met with Ian Hart, the Chief Executive Officer of Thoroughbred Racing SA, which is the corporate structure that has responsibility for racing. If something has come in over the last day or two, which I have not seen, I will obviously correct what I just said. However, I did have a discussion with Mr Hart yesterday, and he laid before me some of the concerns of the industry as a result of the influenza. There has been some reduction in money coming as a result of TAB distribution because of the lack of racing, in particular, in New South Wales and Queensland. That is a problem for the industry.

What I suggested to Mr Hart yesterday—and there is a board meeting today as I understand it at which he was going to be putting information forward—was that, post that board meeting, if there was a submission that they wanted to make to government, they should feel free to do so. To the best of my knowledge, I am not aware of a submission at this stage. There may well be one coming.

The leader also made reference to the tax relief that the government spoke of at the time of the Bentley recommendation. To remind members, Mr Bentley made an exhaustive report into the racing industry—not just thoroughbred racing, but harness and greyhound as well. He made a number of landmark recommendations, probably the most significant being that, for thoroughbred and harness, they should establish themselves with independent boards. I am confident that that is well underway, particularly in the thoroughbred area. I think moves are afoot also in the harness area. Greyhounds already have an independent board structure in place.

Mr Bentley also recommended that, if the racing industry achieves that, plus some other particular standards with regard to its business, the government should look at tax relief commencing on 1 July 2008, and the government is prepared to look at that. But, of course, this work needs to continue. By the way, I am pleased with the progress that has been made, particularly in the thoroughbred area. It is disappointing that the specific issue that the leader refers to in regard to influenza is on top of the TVN dispute which also caused financial difficulty for the racing industry. We will have a good look at that but, as I said earlier, I have invited Mr Hart, post the meeting of the board today, to provide a submission to the government if they see fit.