Premier Denis Napthine (pictured at Beckley Park earlier this year).
- Re-elected Coalition will invest $30 million for racing infrastructure and introduce funding for animal and participant welfare
- Under the Coalition, racing has provided a significant $2.8 billion economic boost to Victoria
- Coalition Government building a better racing industry
A re-elected Coalition Government will maintain its strong support for Victoria’s racing industry with $30 million for racing infrastructure and introduce new funding for animal and participant welfare.
Speaking in Ballarat, Premier and Minister for Racing Denis Napthine on Saturday said racing was a vital part of the Victorian economy, generating more than $2.8 billion of economic benefits annually and directly involving more than 114,000 employees, volunteers owners and other participants.
“Over the past term, the Coalition’s Victorian Racing Industry Fund (VRIF) has greatly boosted racing with the overall economic benefit to the state increasing by 33 per in recent years from $2.1 billion per annum to $2.8 billion,” Dr Napthine said.
“The Coalition wants to build on these economic benefits and jobs and that is why we will establish the VRIF Phase 2.
“An important part of VRIF Phase 2 will be a new a fund for animal welfare including both current and retired greyhounds and horses.
“As a vet, I understand the absolutely importance of looking after racing animals. Through this new funding, the Coalition will assist the three racing codes in further enhancing their animal welfare programs,” Dr Napthine said.
Dr Napthine said new funding will also be made available for the three racing controlling bodies to further their efforts in looking after the welfare of participants, particularly mental health and career issues affecting jockeys and trainers.
“The long and often very early working hours, the travel requirements and the financial demands of the racing industry place enormous pressure on participants and their families,” Dr Napthine said.
“We are looking to partner with the racing industry to assist with not just those participants who have fallen on hard times, but also focus on the causes of mental and physical health issues and helping to prevent them.”
The Victorian Racing Industry Fund Phase 2 will include:
- at least $30 million over four years to upgrade racing and training infrastructure and patrons’ facilities at racing and training venues across Victoria;
- $10 million over four years for Victoria’s three racing industries to grow their respective breeding sectors and the jobs and economic benefits arising from them;
- $200,000 to Racing Victoria and $100,000 to Harness Racing Victoria to undertake feasibility studies for the development of respective racing centres of excellence;
- $200,000 over four years for picnic racing clubs to undertake capital works at their venues;
- at least $2 million to undertake additional drug testing and expand on world leading research in this area;
- maintain the Office of the Victorian independent Racing Integrity Commissioner.
- $2 million over four years to Victoria’s three racing industry codes for horse and greyhound welfare initiatives;
- $2 million over four years for jumps racing in Victoria to further improve safety performance, enhance participant skills and boost incentives to compete.
- $500,000 over four years towards participant welfare initiatives including for jockeys and trainers; and
- committing all on-course wagering taxes to funding the Raceday Attraction Program which is designed to promote race days across Victorian communities.
The VRIF Phase 2 will be entirely funded by unclaimed wagering dividends and on-course wagering taxes.
Unclaimed wagering dividends are winning bets not claimed by punters.
