The 2015-16 financial year saw the company end with a $180,000 profit, compared to a $1.2 million loss last year.

But Windermere Independent MLC Ivan Dean told the hearing he had heard these money-saving measures had negatively impacted the industry and its future. 

“That profit has come at the expense of the industry with the decreases across the industry in a number of areas,” Mr Dean said. 

Racing Minister Jeremy Rockliff announced last year that the Tasracing Funding Deed would be amended to remove the requirement to maintain stakes in each year.

He said that while this was a difficult decision, it was important to the future of the industry and meant attention could then turn to infrastructure upgrades. 

“It would be far more devastating for the industry to have a $3 million loss,” Mr Rockliff said.

“It just had to change. Tasracing, I know, do not turn a blind eye to concerns and feedback in the community.”

The hearing spent much time discussing the state’s greyhound racing industry and its financial success compared to other codes.

“The two extremes would be greyhound and harness in terms of commercial revenue for harness being lower than the greyhounds, but also the employment in rural areas for harness,” Tasracing chief financial officer Mark Tarring said in the hearing.   

Mr Rockliff said the government was looking at a location for the Greyhound Adoption Program but nothing had been finalised yet.

Metro Tasmania was also quizzed at a government business enterprise hearing.

It was asked how it would provide better services for school children, people with disabilities and elderly community members.

It also heard complaints of busses not running on time and not travelling frequently enough to outer suburbs.

Transport Minister Rene Hidding announced that Metro Tasmania would welcome Susan Fahey and Jude Munro to the board.