RACING INDUSTRY

Mr PICCOLO (Light) (14:30): Will the Minister for Recreation, Sport and Racing advise the house what progress the state government has made to help ensure the prosperity and sustainability of the South Australian 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) (14:30): I thank the honourable member for his interest in this area. The government is committed to providing a healthy and self-sufficient racing industry in South Australia. The government has already overseen significant changes to the South Australian racing industry following recommendations made in the Bentley report in May last year.

Last week I had the pleasure of announcing two government initiatives of great importance to the South Australian racing industry—a $6 million commitment towards a major upgrade of Gawler Racecourse and a $5 million commitment for the construction of a second turf track at Allan Scott Park at Morphettville. The Gawler Racecourse upgrade will make the track South Australia's second metropolitan thoroughbred racing venue and boost Gawler's presence as the gateway to the Barossa. The funding will go towards the construction of a new racetrack and a multipurpose building to be used as a race day facility and a community function centre. Additional race meetings, plus making the multipurpose function centre available for other community-based activities, is expected to generate greater investment and economic activity in the region.

The future of the South Australian racing industry is dependent upon having two venues capable of hosting metropolitan race meetings. In order to ensure that Morphettville remains the state's premier racing venue, the state government is committing a further $5 million for the construction of a second turf track at Allan Scott Park at Morphettville. The 2,100-metre course will be built inside the existing track at Morphettville, with construction scheduled to begin in October this year. The track is expected to be ready for limited racing by March 2009 and will be capable of holding additional race meetings as it consolidates.

The funding announcements made by the government will ensure that our state has two outstanding metropolitan racing facilities that are capable of sustaining a healthy and prosperous industry for many years to come.