Doubts over legislation

Labour has questioned the Government’s commitment to passing legislation needed to boost the ailing racing industry.

Outgoing Racing Minister Nathan Guy announced late last month the Government would be putting forward a bill "as soon as practicable" which will enable the New Zealand Racing Board to charge overseas betting operators to take bets on Kiwi races.

But racing bosses have been pushing for the legislation for some years and there are fears it might not make it through Parliament’s tight legislative programme in election year.

The racing board, which operates the TAB, last week announced a $24 million two-year boost to the racing codes – thoroughbred, harness and greyhounds – for prize money after growing dissatisfaction from horse owners and trainers about the low returns they receive.

Labour’s racing spokesman Kris Faafoi said there must be real doubt on the legislation making it through Parliament before the election.

"The Government is being extremely tardy in introducing this legislation and it would be extremely optimistic to think that a bill that hasn’t yet been introduced will be able to be passed before the election, which was the promise National made,’’ he said. ‘‘ There is a huge amount of frustration in the racing industry over this.’’

Guy responded that the bill was currently being drafted by legal advisers and that he had told them it was urgent.

‘‘It’s likely that the new minister David Bennett will be in a position to introduce the Bill into (the) House in the next few weeks,’’ he said.

The legislation is a key component of the racing board’s new strategies, which are projected to bring an extra $45m for the racing codes in 2018/19, growing to $60m in the 2019/20 season.