Tasracing and Tasmanian government breached caretaker conventions over TasInsure, inquiry finds
A parliamentary committee concluded that Tasracing and the Tasmanian government breached caretaker conventions during the 2025 state election campaign.
The House of Assembly Select Committee on Caretaker Conventions presented its concerns over Tasracing’s communications promoting TasInsure, the state-owned insurer Premier Jeremy Rockliff announced as a Liberal election policy on July 2, 2025.
The next day, racing participants received an SMS saying TasInsure “will provide workers compensation insurance among its products that is expected to be applicable, subject to eligibility, for racing industry participants”.
The message also ran as a media release and on Tasracing’s website. Dean Winter, then opposition leader and now the committee’s deputy chair, contacted then chair Gene Phair, who had it removed.
The committee also found that Tasracing committed another breach in connection with the Launceston Greyhound Racing Club.
The committee recommended that heads of government businesses receive compulsory training on caretaker conventions and that rules on consultation with MPs be made clearer.
Previous racing minister Jane Howlett resigned her ministerial responsibilities in June and Roger Jaensch replaced her as Racing Minister. Phair has since been succeeded as chair by Steve Old.
