In a move from the ACT Greens to phase out taxpayer funding to the dying horse racing industry, the "community" independents have sided with the old parties to prop up a sector that contributes no public good for everyday people.
ACT Greens Deputy Leader Jo Clay says it's disappointing to see the Independents side with the old parties to subsidise the horse racing industry, rather than call out Labor and the Liberals for again choosing their vested interests over everyday people.
"Horse racing is not a public good, yet it in a budget of 'tough' decisions, this dying industry still gets propped up by $8.5 million of taxpayer funding," Ms Clay said.
"The ACT Budget has blown out, and to help balance the books, the Government decided it's easier to pass the bill onto everyday people through taxes and new levies, instead of cutting off a private industry which benefits from gambling and animal harm.
"It's no surprise that the old parties chose their vested interests over community good. But I'm disappointed that the Independents in Parliament sided with continuing to support an industry that contributes little social benefit and much harm to the ACT.
"If the Independents are fundamentally against funnelling taxpayer money to a privatised industry operating off gambling and animal harm - like they stated today - then why vote to support this handout?
"The horse racing industry provides little economic benefit. The old parties say it contributes to our economy, but fail to mention that most of that contribution stems from gambling harm and advertising.
"Sport provides much more social and public good to the broader community, but the the whole sports sector - from grassroots to elite - receives less than the taxpayer slush fund to the horse racing industry."
The ACT Greens have sought to amend the ACT Budget to phase out the $41 million public subsidy to the horse racing industry since 2022, since the latest agreement was struck between ACT Government and the Canberra Racing Club.
This is the fourth time the ACT Greens have put up a budget amendment to phase out taxpayer funding to the horse racing industry, increasing by 20% each year, to provide time for the sector to diversify. This year's amendment sought to reduce funding by 80%.
"It is not the job of Government to prop up a private, failing business model indefinitely, particularly one that delivers public harm," Ms Clay said.
"Today's decision means the only option is to continue funding forever, or to suddenly cut it off at the end of the industry's special deal with the Government.
"The ACT Labor Government must not renew this taxpayer slush fund when it expires in 2027. I hope the Independents will back that too, as they've indicated in their speeches today."
BACKGROUND
Since 2011, the ACT government has spent or pledged more than $100M of public money to the horse racing industry. The current MOU is here. It provides funds to the Canberra Racing Club and the Canberra Harness Club.
When this funding deal was first contemplated in 2010, a cabinet submission signed by Andrew Barr - which first set up the MOU taxpayer subsidy - noted that the proposal, quote "does not provide any argument" to support the subsidy.
Canberra Racing Club's Annual Reports are online. Annual Report 2023-2024, Annual Report 2022-23, Annual Report 2021-22, Annual Report 2020-21, Annual Report 2019-20.
The horse racing industry produced an Economic Impact Report. The report claims an economic contribution to the ACT economy and notes that 60% of that contribution is from gambling and gambling advertising.
Clay's amendment to the budget, Explanatory Statement and speech can be provided on request.
