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WARNING: Racing Act Amendment Bill 2017 288-1 Introduced To Parliament

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Last month I wrote to Racing Minister David Bennett expressing my opposition to his appointment of Bill Birnie to the Racing Board citing his business background and his lack of experience of the Racing Industry. Got his reply today and I quote-" The appointment followed the process which is set in the Racing Act 2003." Well  I suggest that this part of the Act be amended and that the Racing Minister be required to consult racing participant groups before unilaterally making the appointment.

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14 hours ago, gubellini said:

Last month I wrote to Racing Minister David Bennett expressing my opposition to his appointment of Bill Birnie to the Racing Board citing his business background and his lack of experience of the Racing Industry. Got his reply today and I quote-" The appointment followed the process which is set in the Racing Act 2003." Well  I suggest that this part of the Act be amended and that the Racing Minister be required to consult racing participant groups before unilaterally making the appointment.

You can write back and tell Bennett that he's either lying, or being lied to, because Bill Birnie was shoulder tapped by Glenda Hughes before any other applicants were considered.

It was a stitch up, just as is every NZTR appointment nowadays.

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The Racing Act amendment is not the onIy iron in the fire.  I know David is working hard in the background for the industry.  I am hearing this may culminate in a positive announcement from the National Party in the next few weeks.   Stay tuned.

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22 minutes ago, Gofta said:

The Racing Act amendment is not the onIy iron in the fire.  I know David is working hard in the background for the industry.  I am hearing this may culminate in a positive announcement from the National Party in the next few weeks.   Stay tuned.

I'd hardly call the Racing Act Amendment BIll "an iron in the fire."   More a "pig in a poke."  If you, as you infer, are close to the Minister of Racing are you able to obtain a copy of the analysis that was undertaken that supports the Bill so we can have a better chance of promoting it?  That won't be the DIA analysis as it doesn't support it. 

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I wouldn't say I was close to David, but he knows I am an advocate for the industry and he lets me chew his ear when our paths cross.  I am pretty confident that if the analysis is not freely available under the freedom of information act,  then he will not provide it to myself.   I just thought, with the high level of pessimism around the industry right now, it was important that participants knew there were positive changes being pushed at government level.

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15 minutes ago, Gofta said:

I wouldn't say I was close to David, but he knows I am an advocate for the industry and he lets me chew his ear when our paths cross.  I am pretty confident that if the analysis is not freely available under the freedom of information act,  then he will not provide it to myself.   I just thought, with the high level of pessimism around the industry right now, it was important that participants knew there were positive changes being pushed at government level.

I appreciate the sentiment but there are some very analytical people in the industry and when they see proposed legislation such as the current Amendment Bill not only does their cynicism increase but also their pessimism.  Their cynicism also probably extends to thinking any so called "positive" changes will assist the big breeders as they have always done.

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11 hours ago, Midget said:

You can write back and tell Bennett that he's either lying, or being lied to, because Bill Birnie was shoulder tapped by Glenda Hughes before any other applicants were considered.

It was a stitch up, just as is every NZTR appointment nowadays.

NZRB appointment

Just as bad though

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I've now had the opportunity to really digest this proposed Act. I'm as incensed as I was before when trying to start a new thread on this matter because this is once again a water shed proposal for racing. 

When the previous Bill was executed, we objected to four main points. these were:

1. That the clubs lost their rights to operate their own tote;

2. That this Minister signed off the accounts, effectively handing fiscal control to the Ministry; 

3. That the Bill repealed all other Acts or actions in respect of any issue of ownership of the tote, placing it squarely in the hands of government; and

4. That the Minister approved the Board members without any recourse by the racing industry.

Yes, the Bill also disproportionately allocated funds to the respective codes, but the wording was such that this could effectively be changed by the Board if it so wished to do so. We know of course that they stuffed it up.

So now we have this one, which has passed its first reading. Whether you like it or not, and there has not been one squeak out of ANY of our industry representatives (Trainers Association, Breeders Association, NZTR, Owners Association or any of the other code's representatives - because they are all affected the same way- in respect of the proposed transition to empower the board to manage and handle the sports betting portfolio. Just remember the Act was introduced for the financial welfare of the people involved in racing. Without a squeak, no serious public lobbying, no club lobbying, No owners lobbying....or the breeders....this Bill destroys the competitiveness of racing by placing its ENTIRE destiny in the hands of any government who HAVE to promote sports for the good of its people.

Ensuring that the Minister appoints the ENTIRE BOARD, that the Department (I only read this as being the Internal Affairs) has complete sign off on the distributions and takeout rates, that the Department approves the new bet types and the rules surrounding those completely sets racing up for a fall. There is no interpretation that allows racing to force anything to happen.

Sports is important for the fabric of New Zealanders. I have no arguments there. We need to promote grass roots sports, so we need to be able to fund them. This was done through lottery distributions but it is obvious that there is not enough to go around anymore so it must come from somewhere. This socialist approach sees the avenue being funds obtained from sports betting. It's obvious.

But here is my beef. The Act was set up to look after the financial and social welfare of racing, not sports. In Australia, when the TAB's were privatised, and the pokie machines were introduced, racing negotiated with government to clearly ensure distributions were provided to racing...guaranteed!!! These distributions were defined and cast in stone and that is why they are prospering. What happens in NZ?....some wish washy language that guarantees absolutely butt nothing. We should lock down sports betting returns for the sake of our industry. We need to know we can survive.

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The Racing Act change is all great but the core fundamental issue is still not being addressed - leakage. All the Racing Act changes will do is clip the ticket for the leakage to overseas Bookies essentially.

Investment or further investment needs to be put in to return, retain and gain customers - by that I mean all customers.

I understand the new betting engine will help assist with this in some capacity but that alone will not be enough.

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Berri,

Thats an excellent posting. Like you I was amazed at the language of the proposals and the non show of racings guardians.

AS you probably noticed with RaceO every possible regulation is put in the way but overseas operators are given every encouragement. A good case is Uber.  It would have been impossible for a local taxi business to start up like Uber yet the authorities turn a blind eye to Uber as it has ignored oodles of laws which stood in the way of local enterprise.

Its time for clubs to look at bypassing the TAB and having full control of wagering on their enterprise.

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On 8/7/2017 at 9:03 AM, Leggy said:

Yep, 65AN is a doozy. Big change in purpose from the current:

(c) to promote the long-term viability of New Zealand racing.

to:

(b) promoting the long-term viability of New Zealand racing and sports:

Probably should rename the act to the Racing and Sports Act while they are at it.

Yes thats a massive change. Its up to sports bodies to promote their own sport.  NZTR to organise racing viability.

It just won't work. It will mean more hirings of sports orientated media personalities under the excuse "Thats what the Act requires us to do" Many young people feel more comfortable with sports promotion than racing. The end result racing will be demoted and have no influence on the direction of the board. Already its evident. The Paddy Power fixed odds platform is not required for racing.

The TAB was never set up for the purpose of ensuring sport viability. Sports already have Lotto and now the TAB  is required to promote it.

Sorry I'm a late starter reading and digesting this thread. 

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This amendment is an absolute disaster for racing. Everything about it is geared at wresting control of NZRB away from Racing and onto Sports organisations. Hell they have even inserted Sport and Recreation NZ into the Act.  Sport and Recreation NZ does not exist. Everywhere in the Act when racing is mentioned someone has ensured sport is listed alongside as an equal partner.

Its got Glenda Hughes footprint all over it. Heavily involved in sports management, sports media on top of being a Sports representative for NZ. Using one of her media tricks in the bag she refers to Racing and Sport as Sport and Racing.  How on earth she was put in and Alan Jackson taken out of the chair smells of something underhand. The average greyhound participant would not have objected to Jackson's appointment. They must have been led on by some anti racing pro sport government official.

 This Act stifles local innovation. Does nothing to stop betting leakage and just puts more control back to government.  It ensures that no matter what the future of the TAB the proceeds will not flow back to racing but be shared  with sports organisations.

Expect huge legal costs as racing and sports squabble over financial returns as well as sports organisations themselves squabbling over a cut of the cake.

Politicians will find more leaverage appeasing sports administrators than racing.

This new amendment is unworkable and has hoodwinked racing administrators believing its about leakage whereas its nothing of the sort.

 

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If what you say is correct (I haven't read the bill),  thank God it hasn't been past. 

Under a new government partnership hopefully with NZ First,  it should or will sorted it out, as it obviously needs to be. 

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9 hours ago, Insider said:

If what you say is correct (I haven't read the bill),  thank God it hasn't been past. 

Under a new government partnership hopefully with NZ First,  it should or will sorted it out, as it obviously needs to be. 

I suggest you read the damn thing otherwise you won't need to worry about CGT.

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I find it astounding that racing stake holders, I.e. Trainers, club committee members are not all over this? I raised the legislation at our track this morning and was astounded that neither trainer I spoke with had any idea of the legislation or what it means for industry participants. when I challenged them about where the funding for racing prizemoney comes from, neither was aware that racing is not self sustaining/self funding....and with a stroke of the pen, if this legislation passes, it all falls over.

 

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26 minutes ago, La Zip said:

I find it astounding that racing stake holders, I.e. Trainers, club committee members are not all over this? I raised the legislation at our track this morning and was astounded that neither trainer I spoke with had any idea of the legislation or what it means for industry participants. when I challenged them about where the funding for racing prizemoney comes from, neither was aware that racing is not self sustaining/self funding....and with a stroke of the pen, if this legislation passes, it all falls over.

 

Yes and those paid the big salaries at NZRB don't care where the revenue comes from nor who it is paid to.  The only thing they have missed doing is taking the word "Racing" out of the Racing Act!

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This has been on the horizon for sometime. The TAB would function quite happily without any domestic racing. They the TAB would just import the racing arm of their operation, and put their focus on sports. The direction they are heading has been clear for years, especially since round the clock racing from nowhere. They have been applying higher takeout rates on domestic racing, whilst at the same time, lowering the takeout on Australian racing to meet co mingling agreements. This extra tax on local racing is negative to local racing. I believe the TAB now turnover more money on Australian racing across the 3 codes, than the local product. Changing the Act is just another step towards that goal. Meanwhile, NZ racing is self imploding, especially the gallops, abandonments, poor stakes, unsafe tracks, lack of quality horses.

And yet with all the signs of the demise of NZ racing, no Clubs, Breeders, Trainer reps, NZTR, the other two codes, have challenged, and undertaken to resist this change to the Act at all costs. I actually believe one of the codes supports this new legislation.

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Surely resistance to any destructive change in legislation must mainly be the responsibility of NZTR, arguably in conjunction with the Trainers Assn or Owners Assn.

You can hardly blame the NZRB and Government for proposing favourable change ( their way ) if the codes don't have the nous or courage to oppose it or ensure it's racing friendly productive change.

As for the many sports bodies throughout this country, they'll be rubbing their hands with glee watching this unfold.

It's hard to think of an applicable analogy whereby an impecunious but asset rich entity has handed control of their future over to what's effectively a competitor. 

 

 

 

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That's is what I find entirely incomprehensible ..... What is it that the trainers or owners associations don't get? I realise the industry is on a precipice but it doesn't need the encouragement of this legislation to hasten its demise.

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Just look at what people are focussed on on Racecafe.  Emily Farr and her third ride for the day.

This piece of legislation fucks racing well and truly.  

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1 hour ago, 2Admin2 said:

Just look at what people are focussed on on Racecafe.  Emily Farr and her third ride for the day.

This piece of legislation fucks racing well and truly.  

If Glenda Hughes has had just a tiny involvement in drafting it then there is good cause for a court case and damages. At minimum resignation. The Act as it stands now is quite clear.

"to promote the long-term viability of New Zealand racing."     Anyone can see that by divesting half the asset to Sports interests goes against the Act. She has clearly acted illegally.

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10 hours ago, hesi said:

In September the Government announced the outcome of its Gaming Review and the TAB was pleased to see that racing benefited. The TAB retained its monopoly on race and sports betting and remains the only New Zealand gaming provider allowed to operate over the Internet. These laws are, however, rapidly becoming impossible to enforce and a number of offshore agencies are currently targeting our major punters with better odds, made possible by paying nothing to the industry.

NZRB Annual Report 2002

Things move slowly in Racing

Many sports managers would prefer Lotteries Commission running sports betting. The way the legislation is written seems more emphasis is put on interaction with government, sports body and the overseas operator.  THe possibilty of bypassing the TAB is allowed for.  All the bits in the amendment about getting payment to racing is rubbish. Just a hodge podge of absurd unrealistic scenarios that won't add one cent to NZ Racing. The $60,000 limit for reporting turnover is an invitation to take bets. Example there could be a single advertising medium attracting bets but hundreds separate  entities with some insurance scheme to smooth their profit/loss.

How does the legislation propose to treat operators that lay off their bets and how will that be policed. It can only be done with full cooperation of individual countries and quite frankly I can't see them being bothered.

Hate to say it but up to this time I thought racing had a future. This legislature is the last straw. Racing is gooone

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