Saturday’s ACT election could see relief in the “unsustainable” cost of workplace insurance for Canberra-based trainers, but a pivot towards a Green vote could prove disastrous for the local racing industry.
Canberra racehorse trainers will potentially save tens of thousands of dollars in insurance premiums under much-needed workplace changes if Labor is returned to government at the ACT election.
As part of a policy commitment before Saturday’s election, Labor has promised to bring insurance costs for Canberra trainers in line with a scheme for jockeys.
“ACT Labor will continue to support jobs in the local racing industry,” the government’s policy statement read.
“This includes reforming workplace arrangements for a small portion of industry trainers and their staff. It is anticipated this reform would require minor legislative amendment.”
The changes in legislation will allow for ACT workers to be insured outside of the nation’s capital jurisdiction.
As it stands, Canberra stables have to pay exorbitant premiums because there is a limited number of trainers in the ACT.
Employing staff in a high-risk workplace has added to the rising insurance cost, leaving some trainers to run their businesses at a loss or relocate to NSW.
“Insurers don't want to do it or they price the premium so high … so we need to be part of a bigger pool to make it long-term sustainable,” a source in the Canberra thoroughbred industry told The Straight.
A change in legislation would open the way for Canberra trainers to join an industry scheme such as the one Racing NSW offers.
There have been several high-profile trainers who have abandoned Thoroughbred Park as their training base in response to spiralling premiums.
Warwick Barr
Nick Olive moved his stable across the border to neighbouring Queanbeyan while Matt Dale has established a training base at Goulburn.
Luke Pepper switched his operation to Scone in the NSW Hunter Valley but has recently announced he will re-open stables in Canberra.
Dale said increased premiums were a major factor in his decision to leave despite forging a reputation as one of Australia’s best full-time regional trainers out of Canberra.
“In an industry where training horses - where there's not much wiggle room in the operational costs - it was like almost another staff member that you were having to pay,” he said.
“The cost of premiums grew and grew and it got more and more expensive.
“When you're having to work, I suppose, twice as hard for yourself to cover that cost, that's not necessarily sustainable.”
“When you're having to work twice as hard for yourself to cover that cost, that's not necessarily sustainable."
- Matt Dale
Long-time Thoroughbred Park trainer Keith Dryden said insurance premiums are one of several major challenges as Canberrans prepare to go to the polls on Saturday.
As ACT Labor seeks re-election after 23 years in power, Dryden says any additional ACT Greens’ gains in the Legislative Assembly could be a disaster for the industry.
The future of horse racing in Canberra has become an election issue, with the Greens campaigning on a promise of “housing, not horse racing”.
As part of their election platform, the Greens want to turn Thoroughbred Park into a residential site for 5000 new homes.
“The (ACT) Greens want to close us down. If the Greens increase the number of their seats we could even be right out of business … that’s where it is at now,” Dryden told The Straight.
“And so it’s all depending on next weekend, where we’re going, whether we’re still in business, or out of business. That’s how bad the situation is.
“Everybody says I should move, but I’m too old to move. I’ve been here 40 years.”
Chief Minister Andrew Barr says the Greens’ residential proposal is ideologically driven to discontinue horse racing in the ACT.
“We support a model that sees housing on the site, but also retaining Thoroughbred Park. That’s entirely possible. It’s practical, it's deliverable,” he said in June.
The government’s commitment to partially redeveloping racecourse land was reaffirmed in its policy document released last week.
“ACT Labor also recognises Thoroughbred Park’s proposed major housing development as part of our plan to facilitate the construction of 30,000 more dwellings across the Territory by the end of 2030.
“We will encourage the diversification of the (Canberra Racing Club’s) income streams as outlined in the MoU between the clubs and the Government.”
