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Sue Burley Australia (Verified User) Posts 5559 Dogs 10310 / Races 14781 11 Mar 2009 04:50
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And that's all it is, a political meeting with the Shadow Minister trying to gain support with the elections looming.
Arranged from over your side of the river I hear Dan. Oh gosh not another group forming is there?
Dan Hollywood Australia (Verified User) Posts 6026 Dogs 28 / Races 32 11 Mar 2009 07:10
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Sue, what other meetings of any sort taken place do you know of. At least someone will have something to say on matters relating to racing in Qld. And will obviously listen to what members have to say. Arranged from this side, good, there are owners, breeders and trainers here also. And if the industry admin cannot attend to all concerned participants, then they are not doing their job. You may not want to believe it, but a track on the north would see many whom left the game come back, aswell as plenty of newcomers. Sue, all it is at the moment is an industry heading backward, with attitudes that will get it nowhere by not looking after all involved and its future. You sit back on your arse while they build your super track in your backyard, and soon after you will see the bigger mess created.
Sue Burley Australia (Verified User) Posts 5559 Dogs 10310 / Races 14781 11 Mar 2009 08:10
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Dan dont get excited, no-one mentioned a track on the northside. The Shadow Minister is a Toowoomba boy. And the mmeting has been arranged by "a" supporter of his who happens to live on the northside.
So will you be going to the meeting?
Dan Hollywood Australia (Verified User) Posts 6026 Dogs 28 / Races 32 11 Mar 2009 08:18
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If i can straighten upright i may.
Terry Fisher Australia
Posts 52 Dogs 0 / Races 0 11 Mar 2009 22:07
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gee did some one get some get and go and realise a track on the northside would bring back some good people and alot of new ones
look at what the north side has put up with over the years but they keep going maybe we should put somebody in charge that is going to take us ahead not just in there back yard
Brian Terry Australia (Verified User) Posts 735 Dogs 36 / Races 5 11 Mar 2009 22:33
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For those that cant attend the meeting at Albion Park.......
LNP POLICY Racing CURRENT OVERVIEW Three private companies (control bodies) control racingQueensland Racing Ltd, Queensland Harness Racing Ltd, and Greyhounds Queensland Ltd. The responsibility of the control bodies in managing their code of racing includes the allocation of race dates; licencing of animals, clubs, participants and venues for racing; distributing monies to licensed clubs for prize money; and allocating funds for venue development and other infrastructure relevant to the code of racing. The Government licences control bodies. They have a system of internal renewal (election by shareholders) and licence renewal (by government). The Liberal National Party believes control bodies should be based on a principle of independence; good corporate governance; fair to all stakeholders; and provide each code with opportunities for growth and development. The LNP also believes the Office of Racing, whilst overseeing integrity and animal welfare issues,should also be of strong assistance where required to the three codes and their control bodies. FUNDING BOOST The LNP recognises the importance of the three codes of Racing to the economic, employment and social benefit of all Queensland. A LNP Government will boost the three codes of Racing with an additional annual grant of $5.61 million,to be taken from wagering taxes received by Government. This money will be provided to the three control bodies for the following specific purposes: ◊ City Racing$1 million ◊ Regional Racing$1.5 million ($200,000 per TAB clubGold Coast, Sunshine Coast, Ipswich, Toowoomba, Rockhampton, Mackay and Townsville, and $100,000 for non-TAB club Cairns) ◊ Country Racing$1.36 million Up to 20 additional non-strategic country race meetings per year throughout Queensland, including the reinstatement of Kilcoy (3), Esk (3), and Bell (1) race meetings Return of $3,000 administration fee to non-strategic country race meetings ◊ QTIS boost$500,000 additional funding spread over country, regional & city racing to add to existing QTIS scheme ◊ Training & recruitment of Jockeys, Track Work Riders & Stable hands, and promotion of racing$250,000 ◊ Harness Racing$500,000 ◊ Greyhound Racing$500,000 We will ensure that any fees received from Race Fields Legislation covering wagering operators or interstate and international product sales, will remain with each of the codes.
CONTROL BODY CORPORATE GOVERNANCE The LNP believes that control bodies should be independent and statutory. The selection and renewal process should be of the utmost independence and integrity in order to provide each code with professional and dynamic leadership. LNP policy is that each control body will operate as a Board for the best interests of its code and will determine policies and procedures. These policies and procedures will be carried out separately by the CEO and staff of the control body.
The control bodies will be required to provide an annual report to the Parliament each year. Racing Control Bodymaximum number should be 7. Selection process must ensure that experience in and knowledge of city, regional and country racing exists within the membership of the control body. The selection process and guidelines will also ensure experience in business, finance, law, event management, and a strong understanding of the product fees that underpin the three codes. Harness & Greyhound Racing Control Bodiesmaximum number should be 5, and the selection process and guidelines will ensure experience in racing, business, finance, law, event management,and a strong understanding of the product fees that underpin the three codes. INDUSTRY CONSULTATION Each control body will be required to provide the Racing Minister with an annual program of formal consultation with its industry stakeholders. The minimum requirement will be an annual industry conference and one other meeting of the control body with stakeholder representatives. 1. THOROUGHBRED RACING Recognising the importance of racing POLICY The LNP recognises the vital economic and social contributions to the state made by the racing industry, and our rebuilding blueprint for the future is designed to ensure that all stakeholders and participants are treated fairly. The restructured control body will better reflect industry needs. INDUSTRY GOVERNANCE The LNP recognises the importance of the independence of Queensland Racing Board directors, and will expand control body numbers to ensure independent directors with sound experience in city, regional and country racing. COUNTRY NON-TAB RACING The sustainability of country racing will be protected by a legislated Thoroughbred Racing Intra-code Agreement (TRIA) designed to provide greater certainty over the level of country race funding long term. A Country Racing Council (CRC) will represent all non-TAB racing and undertake specific tasks including the recommendations of race dates and allocation of prize money distributions to Clubs. The legislation will also ensure that Country Racing is entitled to reasonable and appropriate prize money and race day services. The CRC will consist of delegates representing each regional association. INDUSTRY FUNDING Prize money and industry capital funding will be significantly boosted by a LNP initiative to top-up existing Product and Program Agreements and Race Fields Agreements by $5.61 million per year ($4.61 million to thoroughbred racing, $500,000 harness racing, $500,000 greyhound racing). Vision The LNP recognises the importance of the Racing Industry throughout Queensland for its significant contribution to the economy of the State, for the provision of business and employment opportunities, and for its role in the social life of many cities and communities. The Racing Industry needs to be competitive, accountable, and open in all matters and LNP policy will: ♦ Build confidence in a future sustainable state-wide racing industry by the formation of a statutory control body to manage racing for all stakeholders: ◊ This control body, the Queensland Racing Board, will have directors with sound experience in city, regional and country racing. ◊ All seven directors must be independent of club committees and direct sectional interests and are to be appointed by an independent panel. ♦ Rebuild and protect country non-TAB racing through a legislated Thoroughbred Racing Intracode Agreement, and to empower a specific purpose Country Racing Council to recommend race dates and allocations of prize money from the resources provided by such Agreement. ♦ Ensure that legislative support (ie Racing & Betting Act) is regularly updated to reflect the needs of the industry. Noel Pascoe, photo Racing for all Queenslanders The Queensland Racing Industry is facing solid competition from interstate racing industries whose prize money and capital works funding levels are more lucrative, and also from other professional sports. Over time many Queensland regional areas have had access to racing on a weekly basis all but removed due to transport costs, plus the current requirement to travel many hundreds of kilometres to the nearest race meeting. The ranks of country owners, trainers, jockeys, strappers and bookmakers have been decimated as a result. As a matter of priority the LNP will inject sufficient new funding from the $5.61 million package to rebuild the industry state-wide by: ♦ Providing increased funding through the provisions of the Thoroughbred Racing Intra-code Agreement to non-TAB and viable country race clubs so that the industry in regional areas is sustainable through the creation of greater opportunities for owners, trainers, jockeys etc, in turn providing flow-on benefits to provincial TAB meetings in terms of horse numbers, licensees, and participants. ♦ Allowing the Queensland Racing Board to maximise all TAB racing opportunities, thereby increasing industry revenue. ♦ Providing a financial buffer against any downturn in the Product and Program Fee received by the industry. ♦ Minimising the costs of racing on racehorse owners and race clubs. ♦ Protecting the integrity of the industry. ♦ Providing greater incentives to the purchasers of Queensland bred yearlings. ♦ Providing a scheme to assist in the training of jockeys, track work riders and stable hands. ♦ The promotion of racing. If racing were just an industry, it would be on the finance pages. It would have the warmth of merchant banking and the literary traditions of insurance. All that can make racing beautiful, all that ever elevates it above dull commerce, is the horse. Take away the horse and you have no hero, no theatre. You are left with a zombie inserting a gambling dollar into a machine. Les Carlyon, True Grit: Tales from a decade on the turf Specific Initiatives Reinstatement of country race meetings & reallocation of administration fee The LNP has pledged to reinstate up to 20 non-strategic country race meetings, and fund the reallocation of the $3,000 administration fee to non-strategic country race meetings. This would include our recent promise to reinstate meetings at Kilcoy (3), Esk (3) and Bell (1), all of which lost these meetings in the December 2008 cuts to country racing. These meetings would be reinstated at no cost to other strategic or non-strategic clubs. Country racing would be a priority for a LNP Government. It is the nursery of the racing industry. Cost to Budget $1.36 million per year Brisbane Racing Development Recently there was an exciting and historic amalgamation of the two former capital city clubs to form the Brisbane Racing Club. A LNP Government would support the BRCs planned redevelopment of both Eagle Farm and Doomben into a modern racing precinct, and would provide $1 million per year to assist with the timely planning, design and administration of this project. As part of this, we would work with State Government departments and the Brisbane City Council to expedite planning and development for the City Racing Precinct. These funds will be available to the BRC on an annual basis for ongoing racecourse development or the enhancement of prizemoney at the club. Cost to Budget $1m per year Regional Racing Regional TAB race clubs will receive $200,000 per year for enhanced prizemoney / increased races at their club. The non-TAB club of Cairns (including the annual Amateurs TAB meeting) will receive $100,000 per year to assist with planned redevelopment of the track and enhancement of the clubs racing operations. Cost to Budget $1.5m per year Queensland Thoroughbred Investment Scheme (QTIS) Additional funding spread over country, regional and city racing to provide additional incentives for the purchase of Queensland bred thoroughbreds. This money could, for example, provide additional bonuses to 100 country races at $1,000 each, 100 regional races at $2,000 each, and 50 city races at $4,000 each. However the determination of this new QTIS money will be done by the control board. The LNP will continue to support QTIS as an effective means of increasing interest in, and demand for Queensland bred racehorses, thus enhancing the returns for breeders/vendors and racehorse owners. Our policy recognises that the Scheme has an important role to play in the positive development of the Queensland thoroughbred breeding and racing industries and should be a contributing factor in assisting breeders to continue to upgrade their bloodstock with high quality mares and stallions. 2. HARNESS RACING The LNP will support the growth and development of Harness Racing by ensuring an independent, professional and talented control body. The LNP recognises the crucial role played by Albion Park as the headquarters of Harness Racing. We will work with the Albion Park Trust to facilitate the demolition of the closed grandstand, which will cost an estimated $4 million. The LNP in government will work with both Harness Racing and Greyhound Racing to assist with planning and approvals involving State Government departments and the Brisbane City Council to ensure the smooth and timely redevelopment of Albion Park. A LNP Government will provide $0.5 million per year to Harness Racing through their control body for capital works at Albion Park or other venues, or for the further development of Harness Racing. On the basis that the new grandstand at Albion Park can be funded by the sale of excess land, this $0.5 million per year should assist the harness racing industry in its share of the demolition costs of the old stand. In the future this annual grant of $0.5 million would be available for ongoing development of Albion Park, any other harness racing facility, or for enhanced prizemoney of the harness racing industry. We would also work closely with the Harness Racing control body to ensure the long term future of Harness Racing in the Gold Coast area due to the time limited availability of the Parklands facility. All proceeds of Race Fields Legislation covering wagering operators or interstate and international product sales achieved by the Harness control body through Product Co will remain with the code. The LNP is supportive of the development or expansion of Harness Racing in regional areas of Queensland. Noel Pascoe, photo 3. GREYHOUND RACING The LNP will support the growth and development of Greyhound Racing by ensuring an independent, professional and talented control body. The LNP will support Greyhound Racing, as a partner in the Albion Park Trust, to facilitate the demolition of the closed grandstand at Albion Park, which will cost an estimated $4 million. The LNP in government will work with both Greyhound Racing and Harness Racing to assist with planning and approvals involving State Government departments and the Brisbane City Council to ensure the smooth and timely redevelopment of Albion Park. A LNP Government will also provide $0.5 million per year to Greyhound Racing through their control body for capital works at Albion Park or other tracks. On the basis that the new grandstand at Albion Park can be funded by the sale of excess land, this $0.5 million per year should assist the greyhound industry in its share of the demolition costs of the old stand. In the future this annual grant of $0.5 million would be available for ongoing development of Albion Park or any alternate additional track, as well as for regional greyhound racing. We recognise the extremely difficult position Greyhound Racing has been put in by the loss of the outstanding facility at Parklands Gold Coast. The LNP will make available the $10 million compensation paid to the industry for the loss of the Parklands track for the development of an alternate site. These developments would mean that greyhound racing could eventually take place at three strategic sites of Albion Park, Ipswich, and an alternate site. All proceeds of Race Fields Legislation covering wagering operators or interstate and international product sales achieved by the Greyhound control body through Product Co will remain with the code. The LNP is supportive of the development or expansion of Greyhound Racing in regional areas of Queensland at Cairns, Townsville, Mackay, Rockhampton and Bundaberg. The LNP would require a part of the annual $0.5 million grant to be used for this purpose. CP Images, photo
Dan Hollywood Australia (Verified User) Posts 6026 Dogs 28 / Races 32 12 Mar 2009 00:15
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The labour government was the downfall of the greyhound industry in Queensland, it is time for a change. The Gold Coast club are keen to have their own complex once again, yet many others dont want to see this. The Ipswich club is fine for the next ten years, so what would be best for Brisbane. They say it will be hard for them to leave Albion Park, so for the time being may be best to stay and get the GC up and operating. With this offered assistance from possibly a new incoming government, things may start to happen. But they wont if members of the industry and those that make the administrative decisions continue to look blindly at the future of racing in this state. The industry needs to be spread about, one complex will see the majority residing in an area which will eventually be sold out for future development once again, and more problems will arise. The 10 million is for the loss of the gold coast track and to go toward the development of their new one, not for what the governing body deems fit. With the extra funding, within a few years the Brisbane club can seriously look at securing their own future a little further north. There are plenty of sites along the northern gateway with easy access to the airport. The Boondall entertainment centre's adjacent land could be ideal with public transport next door also. For the industry to go forward, they have to expand, not by craming it all into the one pocket. Looking after the industry participants and attracting the new dont seem to be in the best interest of the governing body.
Terry Fisher Australia
Posts 52 Dogs 0 / Races 0 12 Mar 2009 00:40
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how right you are dan
Dan Hollywood Australia (Verified User) Posts 6026 Dogs 28 / Races 32 12 Mar 2009 04:18
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Still no word on Greyhounds Queensland website, neither updates on the Logan issue or this meeting. Quite obvious of their intentions, their way or no way.
Sheryl Clark Australia (Verified User) Posts 777 Dogs 16 / Races 1 12 Mar 2009 04:18
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And for the north side of brisbane,Redcliffe trotting track is allready set to take a greyhound track, POWERS TO BE ,LOOK AT THAT Or is that to easy?.
Sue Burley Australia (Verified User) Posts 5559 Dogs 10310 / Races 14781 12 Mar 2009 04:31
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Dan the meeting is a political meeting and part of the Shadow Minister's election campaign, it has nothing to do with Greyhounds Queensland so why would they advertise it on their website?
Sue Burley Australia (Verified User) Posts 5559 Dogs 10310 / Races 14781 12 Mar 2009 04:39
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malcolm mccabe wrote:
And for the north side of brisbane,Redcliffe trotting track is allready set to take a greyhound track, POWERS TO BE ,LOOK AT THAT Or is that to easy?.
Share a complex with the trots!!! Why on earth would we do that when we can have our own stand alone complex that we own?
Dan Hollywood Australia (Verified User) Posts 6026 Dogs 28 / Races 32 12 Mar 2009 04:41
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Ok, so the funding boost that Brian posted earlier has nothing to do with greyhounds. If anything is of the best interest to participants, then GQL should be informed and passing on that information.
Dwyer Lennon Australia (Verified User) Posts 195 Dogs 40 / Races 179 12 Mar 2009 06:22
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My understanding of what I read is that the LNP are al in favour of helping with a new track but not in shifting from Albion Park. There was nothing mentioned about helping facilitate a move from there away from the trots. The 1/2 million dollars for capital works is good for the industry, but, what I don't understand is where it says that the new grandstand could be funded by the sale of excess land. "DO THE GREYHOUND PARTICIPANTS WANT A NEW GRANDSTAND?" ....I don't see the point of a new grandstand for greyhound participants as it doesn't get us any closer to the action. If we have to pay to knock over the old grandstand, why should the greyhound industry be forced to fund a new building that would be mainly for the benefits of the trots.
Sheryl Clark Australia (Verified User) Posts 777 Dogs 16 / Races 1 12 Mar 2009 06:43
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Unfortunatly,all racing is run by the state GOVERMENT,who ever is in power it does not matter,they are both full of it when it comes to doing any thing.and we end getting what the state gov wants,full stop,so nothing is different.
Steven Martin Australia (Verified User) Posts 7681 Dogs 180 / Races 66 12 Mar 2009 07:41
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$500,000 every year for the Greyhounds outa $22 million. Its better then nothing...............But Woopy f%#ken do. All we want is to get out of Albion and get our own identity. Are they willing to help out in that area????????............Stevo.
Dan Hollywood Australia (Verified User) Posts 6026 Dogs 28 / Races 32 12 Mar 2009 21:08
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The LNP policy states In the future this annual grant of $0.5 million would be available for ongoing development of Albion Park or any alternate additional track, When and if the Gold Coast settle into a new complex covered by the 10 mil, the Brisbane club, along with the new board, can then work on an additional track.
Louise Inall Australia (Verified User) Posts 876 Dogs 31 / Races 0 14 Mar 2009 23:17
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what time was this meeting suppose to be held today? I know I probably have already missed it
Dan Hollywood Australia (Verified User) Posts 6026 Dogs 28 / Races 32 15 Mar 2009 01:26
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10am
Brian Terry Australia (Verified User) Posts 735 Dogs 36 / Races 5 15 Mar 2009 01:33
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But Lousie you can read all it has to say here instead of going to the meeting.
Would be good to hear any feedback from anyone that did attend.
Wasnt there also a owners & trainers meeting at Capalaba a few weeks back, in which Paul Felgate was invited to speak at? Anyone there to hear what he had to say?