Racing Industry

Mr WHETSTONE (Chaffey) (12:03): I move:

That this house—

(a) acknowledges the important contribution of the racing industry to the South Australian economy; and

(b) recognises the outstanding work by metropolitan and regional racing clubs to hold annual meets attracting thousands of spectators.

The racing industry's contribution to the economy in South Australia, I believe, is often understated. It is an industry that receives very minimal assistance from the state government, yet generates more than $400 million per annum in its economic benefits. The industry in South Australia has three arms—thoroughbred, greyhound and harness racing—and falls under my role as the shadow minister for racing. The impact of the racing industry extends well beyond that seen on the racetrack. It is an industry that constitutes a key aspect of the state's social fabric, both on a metropolitan and a regional basis, and provides impressive economic, social and community benefits.

If we look at the overall picture of South Australian racing, the industry sustains employment of around 3,628 people, one in every 80 South Australian adult residents. It provides $224 million per annum in household income. It generates GST of $19 million per annum and $303 million per annum in direct expenditure with more than 40 per cent of this expenditure occurring in regional centres.

In a report of the economic benefits of the industry undertaken in 2013, racing was second only to the AFL in terms of even attendance with 13,852 members and members' guests of racing clubs throughout South Australia. It is of course hard to go past some of the most valuable contributors in South Australia, which are the volunteers. There are 1,240 volunteers the South Australian industry engages, and 161 charities and community organisations that racing clubs assist each year. South Australia itself has 42 racing clubs operating on 38 tracks across the state, and the volunteers are often the backbone of these clubs.

There are large meets, small meets and annual meets right across South Australia. As an example, in my electorate, we have a meet that happens once a year in Halidon. It attracts a good amount of prize money and very strong crowds. I would like to read part of the opening summary of the Economic, Social and Community Benefits of the South Australian Racing Industry report. It states:

The racing industry should be recognised by the State Government as the important industry and community asset it undoubtedly is.

For the South Australian racing industry to survive and ultimately flourish, we believe it is essential that the Government provides a level of support commensurate with the commitment it demonstrates towards other similarly vital sectors of the economy.

In the face of growing competition from interstate, underpinned by assistance and recognition from respective Governments in those jurisdictions, the South Australian racing industry will inevitably become a less competitive and sustainable industry in the absence of meaningful State Government support.

My intention with this motion is not to become too political because we know that the Minister for Racing has brought politics into the racing industry that is severely damaging the industry and tarnishing it, as we speak. I want to leave those few paragraphs from our three major racing industries right there.

Currently, the South Australian government has just 0.5 of an FTE dedicated to the racing industry. Yes, that is right, half a person full-time for an industry that is worth many millions of dollars—$400 million of economic benefit. I think that just speaks for itself. The racing industry also spends hundreds of millions of dollars on producing foals and pups and preparing racehorses and greyhounds to underpin that industry.

If we look at a breakdown of racing's value-added contribution to gross state product across the three codes in the regions, in the northern region, $7.5 million; Eyre, nearly $8 million; Yorke and Lower North, nearly $10 million; and Adelaide, $290 million. I guess that would be predominantly underpinned by Globe Derby. We look at Morphettville and we also look at greyhound meets right across the state. Outer Adelaide contributes $47 million; Murraylands, $14.5 million; and the South-East, nearly $25 million.

If we link that to employment and participation: the northern area, 1,260 jobs; the Eyre area, 900 jobs; in Adelaide, 7,800 jobs; Yorke and the Lower North, 540 jobs; outer Adelaide, 2,750 jobs; the South-East, a little over 1,600 jobs; and the Murraylands, about 750. So, 60 per cent of the racing clubs of South Australia actively promote the history and heritage elements of their club, and I would like to see more of this as our racing clubs are some of the most historic across the state.

The greyhound adoption program has had growth in adoptions of 33 per cent on the previous year. Educating our young people about harness racing training is vital for the continuation of racing and I note the work in that field. If we look at greyhound racing in South Australia as an example, there has been plenty of investment in infrastructure:

the completion of the $2.6 million Gawler redevelopment project;

the installation of the catching pen with a run-off chute at Angle Park;

the 270-metre slipping track at Angle Park; and

the multiple projects undertaken by the Mount Gambier club, including a major upgrade of the kennel house, the slipping track, a new maintenance shed and the installation of a 600-metre start.

Notably, GRSA has also associated half a million dollars annually towards integrity and welfare initiatives, which is great to see after the scandal that raced through that industry. If we look at the 2015 Thoroughbred Racing SA annual report, we see that the number of meetings conducted was 188, six up on 2013-14, with 1,473 races—almost 60 up on the previous financial year. I would also like to acknowledge the work of the Jumps Review Panel, which in 2014-15 worked with accredited jumps trainers.

The Murray Bridge Racing Club at Gifford Hill redevelopment is one of the most exciting projects underway in regional South Australia. However, the state government has chosen to ignore the potential of this project that has been ongoing over the last 10 years. An example of the great regional meet is at Mindarie, the Mindarie-Halidon races. It is a great event out in the middle of the bush, away from just about everything. It is at the back of the small farming town of Halidon, which just comes to life. Seriously, you can drive through Halidon at any opportunity and just see dust and weeds blowing across the road, but one day of the year the place comes alive with the Mindarie-Halidon Cup. I like to call it the Melbourne Cup of the Mallee.

The first racing meeting held by the Mindarie-Halidon Racing Club was on 3 September 1921, and it continues today. The club has come a long way since the meeting, with good facilities. The vision of the club is to ensure long-term racing in the Murray Mallee, and I think it really does complement the great work that goes on at Murray Bridge. The two clubs work really well together and support one another, and that is what makes this such a success.

During 2014-15, there were 56 race meetings at Morphettville; in 2013-14, there were 58, with 463 races run with 4,392 starters, averaging 9.5 starters per race. There were four group 1 races held at Morphettville during the year. Talking about other major races around the state, I do want to touch on the Oakbank Easter Carnival, which is one of the great Australian picnic carnivals on the racing calendar.

Obviously, recent commentary between the president of the Oakbank Racing Club and the South Australian government Minister for Racing has really turned into a farce. I think that the president of Oakbank has apologised for calling the minister names, but he was frustrated by the minister trying to bring this industry, this great, iconic picnic event, into disrepute, saying that jumps racing is holding back that venue and that carnival.

I think it is outrageous that a minister with his own personal view will stand up and get in the way of what has been ongoing for many decades. I think the minister's view has clouded people's judgement about jumps racing. Yes, people do have a view on jumps racing. Yes, people have a view on every walk of life for everything that happens every day, but for this select committee to be put up, again, puts a slur on the sport. For this select committee to come up, it really does detract from how important the racing industry is in South Australia.

I commend all three codes and I commend the breeding lines. Not long ago, I was up at Cornerstone Stud, which is a great world-class facility at the back of Angaston, where I was a guest of Sam Hayes. He is producing some magnificent foals and has the blood line that I am sure would be, in some way, shape or form, left by his late father, the great Colin Hayes and his brother Peter, a great, world-class trainer. It is just a great example of what has been achieved in South Australia.

There are many other world-class trainers and breeders in South Australia, but we are sadly being detracted from all the good work that the racing industry has done for South Australia by a few opinionated people, and that really does put a slur on the industry. I think the industry will decide whether the jumps format continues; it is not up to a government to come in and get in the way of something that is so important to our economy and to the sport. I think it is an absolute crime that we can have an opinion get in the way of something that is so important to our economy.

I applaud the great work being done by all of the codes. I am often asked as a guest to go along to Morphettville, Globe Derby Park and Angle Park, and to many of the regional race meets around the state. I note that the Gold Cup is coming up at Mount Gambier in a couple of weeks—

Mr Bell: On 13 May.

Mr WHETSTONE: On 13 May—and it will be another great regional meeting. I know the member for Mount Gambier is a very staunch proponent of racing in South Australia, and is a very proud participant. Not only is he supporting the industry, he supports his local club, and he also supports the economy that is generated from that in his regional community.

I know the member for Stuart is a patron of the Port Augusta Racing Club, and his great work is not to be understated. I think that every MP in this chamber, in one way, shape or form is making a great contribution in supporting their local race clubs and our economy. The reason I have brought forward this motion today is for the simple fact that we see a government that is looking a gift horse in the mouth. I think having a 0.5 FTE to support a $400 million industry is disgraceful.

The government hold out their hand very quickly when they want revenue from betting. They are very quick to hold out their hand when they have an opinion on a part of the racing industry, but this is a slur and a detraction from what I think is a great industry. It is a great sport, and is known as the sport of kings throughout the world, but it is an industry that needs support and a following.

South Australia needs that extra support because we are seeing a lot of interstate horses coming into South Australia and taking some of our prize money. It is not about the 25 jumps horses in South Australia. It is a bit like the Clipsal race, in that there is one group A team in South Australia, and yet the Clipsal is one of the great sporting events in this state. So, why can we not continue to let jumps racing take its natural course? Whether it is 23 jumping horses—it is giving them a life instead of coming off the flats and going to the knackery.

In conclusion, I would like to again highlight the importance of the racing industry in South Australia and congratulate all involved for the outstanding job they do. I think the volunteers, the boards, the groups, the country clubs and the city clubs all do a great job. I look forward to working with all of the South Australian racing codes into the future, and I wish them every success.

Debate adjourned on motion of Mr Odenwalder.