Queenslanders are almost certain to vote for a change of government on Saturday in a result that may have broader implications for the state’s racing industry.
David Crisafulli is expected to lead the Liberal National Party (LNP) to a resounding victory on Saturday after nine years in opposition.
It will be a return to power that will shock no one because the LNP has been ahead in the polls for months.
And despite latest polling showing the incumbent Labor government has narrowed the gap over the past week, bookmakers have the LNP a $1.06 chance to win the election.
A Resolve poll held October 14–19, gave the LNP a 53–47 lead by respondent preferences and a 52–48 lead by 2020 election preference flows.
Racing in Queensland has considerable currency in the halls of parliament simply because Queensland has so many racetracks, over 100 at last count. Almost every member of parliament has a ‘local’ race meeting in their electorate, the staging of which is a major community event.
Be it issues with the track surface at Eagle Farm, or the running rail at Barcaldine, you can bet the racing minister will hear about it.
But unlike last week’s ACT election, when racing had a vested interest as a cornerstone of housing policies from Labor and the Greens, the future of the Queensland industry has barely been mentioned during the campaign.
Aside from a coalition statement released to News Corp media outlets, a definitive policy on racing from either of the major parties has been waived in preference to other issues such as cost of living, youth crime, health and housing.
Racing Minister Grace Grace is content to stand on record in the job, claiming in July that the economic value of racing in Queensland had doubled under the current Labor government since 2015.
Warwick Barr
Quoting independent economic data delivered by IER – a specialist in the tourism, events and entertainment industries - Grace said the economic impact of racing reached a record $2.4 billion in 2022/23.
“This incredible result has only been possible thanks to the important reforms this government delivered around integrity, animal welfare and financial sustainability, as well as building new infrastructure that has given the industry confidence to grow for future success,” she said.
“Had the LNP succeeded in blocking our nation-leading integrity and animal welfare reforms in 2016, the industry would have much less to celebrate now.
“Racing has a bright future under the Miles government, with a pipeline of major infrastructure projects nearing completion, supported by 80 per cent of betting tax revenue being reinvested back into the industry.”
But on the administrative side, things could become interesting.
Warwick Barr
Opposition spokesman Tim Mander said during the campaign that an LNP government would hold an independent review into the racing industry.
"Despite the best efforts of those at grassroots level, it is evident there are systemic issues which are impeding the good functioning of the industry and must be weeded-out,” Mander said.
Although the recent key appointments of Catherine Clark and Kim Kelly to the Queensland Racing Integrity Commission, Mander says the industry watchdog will be put under the microscope if the LNP wins government.
Former Commission boss Shane Gillard quit the role in early June amid an expectation that a KPMG review into the organisation would be made public.
Clark and Kelly were appointed in September with Grace telling parliament that the KPMG report would be released “very soon”.
"The industry has been left in limbo after the former Commissioner of the state's racing integrity body left suddenly after a long-running probe, with the Labor Minister still yet to detail the reasons for the investigation,” Mander said.
“The review will set the record straight and to give the racing industry confidence to thrive into the future."
Bren O’Brien
Mander had previously labelled the QRIC “$40 million a year basket case”, suggesting that its budget had blown out by up to $7 million.
The composition of the Racing Queensland board of directors will also likely come under scrutiny under an LNP government.
While directors may be appointed for terms as long as three years, they can be removed “from office as a member for any reason, or none”.
Should Labor lose the election, a new government can replace the entire Racing Queensland board without explanation. It is the political reality of serving on a RQ board.
Warwick Barr
Whether Mander leads an LNP government industry review as racing minister remains to be seen.
Politically connected racing figures believe John-Paul Langbroek, long-term Liberal and LNP MP for the Surfers Paradise electorate, has the inside running for the racing portfolio.
If he is appointed the role, most in racing expect it to be business as usual for the industry.
“The election is not going to be a bad result either way,” one racing source told The Straight.
Langbroek was leader of the Opposition from 2009 until 2011 and an ex-shadow Racing Minister.
A frequent racegoer, Langbroek has held one of the safest non-Labor seats in the state since 2004.
A Gold Coast-based MP as racing minister and one as Premier could prove a good result for both the Gold Coast Turf Club and auction house Magic Millions as a vital cog in the southeast Queensland tourism and business economy.
Langbroek is seen as a 50-50 chance of getting the racing portfolio should the LNP deliver victory as expected.
