Hutchison Paul: Racing Bill — Instruction to CommitteeCWH In Committee 
Hutchison Paul: Racing Bill — Instruction to CommitteeCWH In Committee 
[Volume:606;Page:3958] 
Dr PAUL HUTCHISON (NZ National—Port Waikato) 
: 
 We have just heard the Minister talk about the three codes being at one on this bill. Undoubtedly National does indeed support the bill and we agree with that. The Minister in the chair Annette King talked about the bill serving an important industry and National absolutely agrees with that. She talked about the bill being important for New Zealand and there is absolutely no doubt about that. But let us have a look at the purposes in Part 1. They include “to provide effective governance arrangements for the racing industry;” and “to facilitate betting on galloping harness and greyhound races and other sporting events;” and finally “to promote the long-term viability of New Zealand racing.” The Minister said in her speech that the report we have been talking about—the report of the racing industry working group—was about looking at the economic implications of the industry in line with the purpose of this bill which is to promote the long-term viability of New Zealand racing. Therefore she has been telling us that that report is of importance. I absolutely agree with my colleague Lindsay Tisch—why did we have to bring this bill in tonight when a delay of just 1 week would have allowed consideration of the very important report of the racing industry working group? 
The genesis of that report came from the initial PricewaterhouseCoopers report of July 2002—in plenty of time for tonight; over 6 months ago now—which contained some very important implications. They are very important implications when one ties them down to paragraph(c) of the purpose clause of the bill “to promote the long-term viability of New Zealand racing”. In fact it stated: “Our discussions and analysis led us quickly to the conclusion that a report that recommended particular areas of initiative for further development and/or investment might be interesting but will not in itself address the factors that have inhibited long-term economic growth in the Industry. In fact it could be both misleading for those involved and create even further impediments to rationale economic performance and investment. There is need for major reform; tinkering around the edges will not help.”  
The recommendation was indeed to set up the industry working group. It is of huge worry that the Government and the Acting Minister for Racing Annette King chose to commission an expensive report went about getting some eminent New Zealanders—including Bill Falconer the chairman Brian Beattie Tom Jamison Wendy Pye and Steve Thompson who put considerable effort into the report and held four meetings around New Zealand amongst the racing industry and interested people—then ignored the report or at least brought in the bill before there was time for a full report on the submissions. It seems absolutely wrong of any Government to do such a thing. We ask the Minister to take a call and tell us why she has done that when a purpose of the bill is to promote the long-term viability of New Zealand racing. She has said: “Oh no. This report was to look at the economic implications of the industry.” The economic implications of the industry are absolutely vital for its long-term continuance. As Mr Tisch said there will be large numbers of people in the racing industry and the area surrounding it who will be very disappointed with the Minister and the Government for having hurtled into the bill tonight when waiting for only a week or a couple weeks could have resulted in a much more considered and refined bill that would adhere to the purpose of looking at and promoting the long-term viability of New Zealand racing.