Wait continues for NSW Thoroughbred Racing Act review
NSW Racing Minister David Harris insists a review of the state’s Thoroughbred Racing Act remains firmly on his agenda despite no progress on its implementation in the three months since it was announced.
Harris confirmed during a budget estimates hearing in March that the Minns government had decided it would review the Act, which was first established in 1996.
A review of the Thoroughbred Racing Act was one of five recommendations made by the Upper House Rosehill Select Committee.
Among the key aspects of the legislation are the powers under which Racing NSW operates, concerns about which were highlighted during the Rosehill inquiry.
The Save Rosehill group, who successfully campaigned to have the Australian Turf Club’s move to sell off Rosehill racecourse defeated, has now turned its attention to the review of the Act, but there has been little progress.
Harris confirmed the review in March, saying the government was looking for someone to undertake the process.
“We are trying to find any potential conflicts of whoever that person might be and have them be fully independent, but with an understanding of the racing industry. As you might expect, that’s not an easy task,” he said at the time.
However, Harris is no closer to finding someone to head up the inquiry, after being asked by Animal Justice Party MP Emma Hurst this week in a written question in parliament as to his progress.
“As you are aware, I committed to a review of the Thoroughbred Racing Act 1996 at Budget Estimates earlier this year,” Harris responded.
“Further information about the review, including its scope and timing, as well as confirmation of an independent person to conduct the review, will be announced in due course.”
Bren O’Brien
There is, as yet, no clue to what the terms of reference of an inquiry may be.
A collection of 27 key thoroughbred industry stakeholders sent a letter to Harris in April asking him to expedite the review.
“A review is timely given that the regulator, Racing NSW, is not subject to the direction and control of the Minister for the purposes of accountability to the Parliament. Nor is the regulator subject to audit by the Auditor General, as suggested by the Thoroughbred Racing Amendment Bill (2023) passed by the Legislative Council on 30 November 2023,” the letter said.
“The government’s support for a review of the Act represents a crucial opportunity to strengthen the integrity of the industry. However, the success of this process hinges on it being genuinely independent, free from interference, and led by a credible, neutral figure who holds public trust.”
As the letter indicates, the last time the Act was set to be amended was in late 2023.
This was when the attempt to extend Russell Balding’s tenure as Racing NSW chairman occurred. That process became highly politicised, and the Legislative Council made significant amendments to create greater transparency measures on Racing NSW.
In a late-night parliamentary sitting, Harris was then forced to withdraw his own legislation in the lower house to prevent it from being passed into law.
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