Hide Rodney: Racing Bill — Instruction to CommitteeCWH In Committee 
Hide Rodney: Racing Bill — Instruction to CommitteeCWH In Committee 
[Volume:606;Page:3960] 
RODNEY HIDE (ACT NZ) 
: 
 I rise on behalf of the ACT party which is now in support of this bill. I say to the Minister that it is a step in the right direction and ACT members think it will be better for the racing industry. The bill does not go far enough in our terms but we realise that the Minister has done her best given the industry and the issues involved. 
The racing industry is a great industry. It is actually a great New Zealand industry and we should be very proud of the bloodstock industry of racing of the success that New Zealanders have had in developing the industry and of the pleasure that they give to hundreds of thousands of New Zealanders. Racing is not my particular cup of tea but I understand that people get passionate when watching horses go around a track and indeed having a punt. Why should they not? 
Hon Dover Samuels 
: And the jockeys. 
RODNEY HIDE 
: Well yes. I did try out to be a jockey but they sent me off to be a hooker—in the local rugby team. So ACT does support this bill but I want to make some general comments about it. I think that this bill should go through quite quickly and I will not take another call—unless something upsets me. 
My question to members is this: what do politicians actually know about this business? I would suggest we do not know much. We certainly do not have anything particularly invested in the business of racing. I know that some people here like a few bets and that some even have a part-share in a horse. But that is it. The ACT party and I are a bit disturbed about the fact that we are trying to micromanage this industry. We talk about changing the depreciation rate or a particular rule but I say the ACT party looks forward to the day when the racing industry is treated like every other industry in New Zealand. There should be nothing special about its treatment. Looking across at my United Future friends I say that there is nothing particularly naughty or bad about the racing industry. People like to have a bet. It is their money; they should be allowed to do so. 
Marc Alexander 
: Is that bad? 
RODNEY HIDE 
: Marc Alexander calls out. Does he think it is bad? Well he does think it is bad on some days. 
We say that it is up to the punters themselves and the racing industry itself to choose. So we look forward to the day when the racing industry can flourish like any other industry without having politicians pretending they are experts—without knowing much about the industry. Other politicians probably know a bit more about racing than me but I know nothing so that would not be hard. 
Marc Alexander 
: Amen. 
RODNEY HIDE 
: Now we have the United Future party saying prayers in the Chamber on my behalf. I thank it for that. I say to the Minister that if she wants the industry to go ahead the way to do that is the same as for any other industry—let us get the taxes down on the racing industry. And let us not get the taxes down on just the racing industry but on every business in New Zealand. Let us also cut out some of the mad rules and regulations. Let us try something radical in the racing industry and it might spread to the rest of New Zealand. Let us just trust the people for a change.