Resolutions

Jumps Racing

Consideration of the House of Assembly's resolution:

1. That in the opinion of this house, a joint committee be appointed to inquire into and report on jumps racing in South Australia and whether it should be banned;

2. In the event of a joint committee being appointed, the House of Assembly shall be represented by three members of the House of Assembly, of whom two shall form a quorum of House of Assembly members necessary to be present at all sittings of the committee.

(Continued from 12 May 2015.)

The Hon. I.K. HUNTER (Minister for Sustainability, Environment and Conservation, Minister for Water and the River Murray, Minister for Climate Change) (15:46): I move:

That the House of Assembly's resolution be agreed to.

I support the motion. In South Australia, jumps racing events are held at Oakbank, Morphettville, Gawler, Mount Gambier and Murray Bridge, I am advised. The controlling authority, Thoroughbred Racing SA, is responsible for race programming, including jumps races.

Thoroughbred Racing SA has very clear responsibility to ensure that the thoroughbred racing environment is as safe as possible for both horse and rider. Thoroughbred Racing SA recently released the racing program for 2015 and has reduced the number of jumps races to be held at Morphettville in 2015 to six races over four days, I am advised.

I am aware that there is growing unease within the community concerning the continuation of jumps racing. This motion presents an opportunity to examine in more detail all the elements surrounding the sport, including the safety of horses and riders in jumps races (steeplechases), the potential economic impact of a statewide ban on jumps races and the views of the racing industry, animal welfare organisations and the wider community.

This joint committee does not necessarily mean that the government intends to ban jumps racing. A joint committee will allow both sides of the debate to be heard. I note that New South Wales is the only jurisdiction in this nation in which there are legislated bans on this sort of event. However, as far as I know, jumps races are held only in South Australia and Victoria.

I understand that the thoroughbred racing organisations of the other states and territories have decided not to hold these events without the need for government intervention. I look forward to the findings of the joint committee, so we can better understand all the elements of the sport and reach an informed decision on the future of jumps racing in our state.

The Hon. T.J. STEPHENS (15:49): I move the following amendment:

That the words 'whether it should be banned' be deleted from point 1.

The opposition is concerned that the parameters set by the original motion are too narrow and serve only the minister's end of banning jumps racing in this state. We would prefer to see a wider discussion on the pros and cons of jumps racing from an objective standpoint, given that racing is a vital industry to the South Australian economy and that jumps racing is an integral part of the racing calendar. Those honourable members who have been here since before last year's election would know of my personal view on jumps racing, which is shared by the Liberal parliamentary party, and that is one of unequivocal support. Thoroughbred Racing South Australia has shown nothing but a commitment to animal welfare in its conduct and administration of jumps racing in the time that I have been in this place.

It certainly seems that this issue is raised on an annual basis around Easter time, when we have 70,000 people converge on the beautiful Hills town of Oakbank for their racing carnival—anything but a coincidence. This famous and ancient carnival has two steeplechases as its flagship races, and without them the Oakbank carnival would have a very different feel to it. The Oakbank Easter Racing Carnival brings in $13 million to the local economy. Just why the government and the Minister for Tourism, of all people, would want to mess with that is beyond me, particularly in this economic climate.

Many of my colleagues in the other place have mentioned that those who protest these events have a certain ideological agenda which is against the so-called exploitation of animals, full stop, and this extends to the use of domesticated animals as working animals or as food sources. I emphasise that domesticated animals, in many cases, were domesticated thousands of years ago for human assistance and subsistence. To suggest that these animals have been mistreated simply by doing what they exist to do is ridiculous. Furthermore, it is in the interests of human owners to care for animals whether they be for food, sport, work or companionship. Weak, maltreated animals would not produce the desired results. Happy horse: happy human.

Frances Nelson QC of TRSA has said publicly that interstate where these bans have been implemented, animal rights protesters have simply moved on to other equestrian events as their source of outrage. Something that is rarely mentioned in these debates is the risk to the jockey in jumps racing. Quite often it is the jockey who is at risk also during a fall in the race, both from trampling and from being crushed by the horse weighing around half a tonne.

As I alluded to earlier, I have made many contributions in this place in favour of jumps racing. I will not clog the public record with more of the same argument, but I refer honourable members to those debates and to the debate in the other place. I look forward to the deliberations of this joint committee and encourage honourable members to support the amendment to allow an objective investigation into this very important issue.

The Hon. T.A. FRANKS (15:51): I rise to speak against the amendment and note that it was the same amendment that was put in the other place. It was soundly defeated there, and I believe it should be soundly defeated here. If you are to consider a ban on jumps racing, that does not mean you actually endorse a ban on jumps racing: it means you consider a ban on jumps racing. Given that that is one of the most controversial calls, I would imagine that members of this council and parliament and the committee to be appointed would welcome that debate, because otherwise why are we having a committee at all if we are not going to actually have the debate?

I would also note that I have often raised concerns about the welfare of jockeys. I have asked for WorkCover statistics on injuries related to this sport, not just for the animals but indeed for those employed in this industry, and I look forward to those figures being made available through the fullness of this debate. With that, I indicate the Greens will be supporting the motion in its entirety, but not the amendment.

Ayes 11

Noes 9

Majority 2

The Hon. I.K. HUNTER (Minister for Sustainability, Environment and Conservation, Minister for Water and the River Murray, Minister for Climate Change) (15:58): I move:

In the event of a joint committee being appointed, this council will be represented on the committee by three members, of whom two shall form a quorum necessary to be present at all sittings of the committee. The members of the joint committee to represent the Legislative Council will be the Hon. Tammy Franks, the Hon. Terry Stephens and the Hon. Kelly Vincent.

The Hon. R.L. BROKENSHIRE (15:58): I move:

To leave out the Hon. K.L. Vincent and insert the Hon. J.A. Darley.

The council divided on the amendment:

Ayes 11

Noes 9

Majority 2

Amendment thus carried; motion as amended carried.