THE state government says it will not be tipping any more money into the racing industry. Racing Minister Jeremy Rockliff told a scrutiny hearing for Tasracing that the agency’s performance was improving, but said it could not expect more help from the state’s coffers. ‘‘We do have to come up with some innovative ways of, if you like, cutting red tape for Tasracing and racing industry participants and grow the product without tipping more money in,’’ he said. ‘‘The previous government tipped money in. [It had a] band-aid effect.’’ ‘‘No more band-aids. She’s over ... in terms of more money for racing.’’ Tasracing ran at a loss of $200,000 in the past financial year, an improvement on the previous year’s loss of around half a million dollars. Chairman Brian Speers said the better performance was driven by a 10 per cent increase in wagering turnovers, and racing events being broadcast into new areas such as France. Mr Rockliff said he believed confidence was starting to return to the industry after a difficult few years. At the end of the hearing, Elwick MLC Adriana Taylor expressed frustration with Mr Rockliff’s answers. ‘‘I feel like our scrutiny has not been entirely effective, and I say this because a number of times we’ve asked the question and your answer has been, ‘well we’re working on that’,’’ Ms Taylor said. ‘‘I would have liked more specific answers.’’
THE state government says it will not be tipping any more money into the racing industry.
Racing Minister Jeremy Rockliff told a scrutiny hearing for Tasracing that the agency’s performance was improving, but said it could not expect more help from the state’s coffers.
‘‘We do have to come up with some innovative ways of, if you like, cutting red tape for Tasracing and racing industry participants and grow the product without tipping more money in,’’ he said.
‘‘The previous government tipped money in. [It had a] band-aid effect.’’
‘‘No more band-aids. She’s over ... in terms of more money for racing.’’
Tasracing ran at a loss of $200,000 in the past financial year, an improvement on the previous year’s loss of around half a million dollars.
Chairman Brian Speers said the better performance was driven by a 10 per cent increase in wagering turnovers, and racing events being broadcast into new areas such as France.
Brian Speers
Mr Rockliff said he believed confidence was starting to return to the industry after a difficult few years.
At the end of the hearing, Elwick MLC Adriana Taylor expressed frustration with Mr Rockliff’s answers.
‘‘I feel like our scrutiny has not been entirely effective, and I say this because a number of times we’ve asked the question and your answer has been, ‘well we’re working on that’,’’ Ms Taylor said.
