Australian racing will take a united stand at a Senate committee hearing into the Interactive Gambling Bill on Monday.
Racing Australia chief executive Paul Eriksson, Racing Victoria chief executive Aaron Morrison and acting Racing NSW chief executive Graeme Hinton will front the committee together to offer racing’s view on the possible reforms.
“It is important that we represent all of our participants as one,” Morrison said. “It is good that we will take one message to the committee and what changes could mean for our sport.
”We have hundreds of thousands of participants that are a part of racing in some way and we need to get their message across.
“It is a big step forward that we will do it with one voice next week.”
Hinton confirmed the collaborative approach for a scheduled 30-minute appearance on a day when the Senate committee will also hear from The Lottery Office and a number of gambling harm groups.
Eriksson said the group will state the economic impact of racing in Australia, while acknowledging concerns around problem gambling, which is expected to be at the centre of two days of public hearings.
“Thoroughbred Racing is a significant part of the Australian economy, employing over 100,000 full-time equivalent people, more than 50% in regional areas, and generating over $13 billion in Economic Activity in the Australian economy,” Eriksson said.
“This is an industry that has existed for over 200 years and is 85% funded by wagering turnover.
“We are strong supporters of mitigating problem gambling and appreciate the government listening to the Industry’s concerns to achieve an appropriate balance and deliver on the government’s objectives of protecting Australians from the harms of gambling and to reduce children’s exposure to advertisements.”
Racing Australia, Racing NSW and Racing Victoria already had put in a joint submission to the committee and, for the first time in more than a decade, appear to be united.
They will be joined by Thoroughbred Breeders Australia chief executive Andrew Hore-Lacy after the breeders submitted a separate submission. However, they were grouped with the racing regulators.
