Jane Howlett,Minister for Racing
The Tasmanian Racing industry provides $185 million per year to the Tasmanian economy, with 38 per cent of that directly benefiting our regional communities.
The Tasmanian Liberal Government is continuing to back Tasmania's racing industry and as Minister for Racing, I am pleased to confirm that the Hobart track continues to improve after the significant renovation in August.
Tasracing expects that it will be at optimum condition through December and across the Summer Carnival in the New Year which is fantastic for the racing industry.
The recovery of the track has progressed as well as can be expected with the colder and wetter than average spring weather.
The track has been assessed regularly by Tasracing, the Office of Racing Integrity (ORI) and many industry stakeholders, and has been assessed as safe.
Three race meetings have now been held since the major renovation.
We have already seen an improvement since the mid-October race meeting and expect to see further significant improvement as the weather warms up and provides better growing conditions for the grass.
Almost 6,000 Tasmanians are either employed in the industry or are direct participants, and the Tasmanian Liberal Government's support for the industry gives it the confidence to continue growing.
