The Advocate's Sean Ford takes Premier Jeremy Rockliff and opposition leader Rebecca White to task over funding for the racing industry.
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00:00 Rebecca White, Labor is promising a 20 year funding leap for racing. How can you do that
00:05 for a, I suppose, a controversial industry which would appear to have fading support
00:09 levels when organisations that, for instance, provide social services to vulnerable Tasmanians
00:15 don't get anything like that sort of certainty? Why racing?
00:18 We've supported the racing industry and we've probably been the strongest supporters of
00:22 racing for a long time now, particularly here on the North West committing to the $30 million
00:28 that is needed for the new track to support all the codes. We're providing that certainty
00:34 because they've had a pretty bad time of it lately and we think it's important as an industry
00:39 that they understand where we stand in terms of our support for them.
00:43 Jeremy Rockleaf, why should taxpayers fund racing at all?
00:47 Well firstly, the Labor Party sold off Tote, its self-funding mechanism, back in 2009.
00:54 I was in the Parliament and opposed the sale of Tote. The deed was created, it's not due,
01:01 for renewal until 2029, that 20 year deed. And look, racing, I support racing, always
01:08 have connections to racing and it employs many Tasmanians in rural and regional areas
01:16 to so on.
01:17 There are a lot of industries that employ Tasmanians, including in rural and regional
01:21 areas, that don't get huge tax bonus subsidies. Why racing?
01:24 Well, as I say, we opposed the sale of Tote, which was a self-funding mechanism for Tote,
01:29 but as Racing Minister indeed, I ensured that there were other opportunities where they
01:34 could become self-funding in terms of the wagering system, so that it could become more
01:41 self-sufficient, for example, and made some key changes in law as Racing Minister to support
01:46 the opportunity that racing could, if you like, be self-sustaining and fund themselves.
01:52 We will always support and value our racing industry. The deed's not up until 2029. In
01:58 desperation for some reason, the Labor Party came out four years earlier. I'm not sure
02:04 why that is. We also have to be very mindful about where we invest our money as well, and
02:13 invest taxpayers' money, I have to say, in terms of key infrastructure as well in that
02:19 area. The Labor Party have made a commitment to a $30 million infrastructure investment.
02:24 Today, I announced $188 million into schools, particularly Havenview and Burnie Primary
02:32 School for an example, where our key focus at this election will be investing in schools,
02:38 not racing tracks.
02:40 [BLANK_AUDIO]