Hutchison Paul: Racing Bill — Third Reading 
Hutchison Paul: Racing Bill — Third Reading 
[Volume:606;Page:4086] 
Dr PAUL HUTCHISON (NZ National—Port Waikato) 
: 
 On behalf of the National Party I am very pleased to support the third reading of the Racing Bill. This bill is designed to strengthen the governance of the racing industry in New Zealand and is supported by the three codes. I am particularly pleased to speak on this bill because Port Waikato—the area I am so privileged to represent—happens to be one of the emerging premier areas for racing in this country. In particular I speak of the Karaka region where we have recently seen the opening of the Glenmorgan stud not to mention the Westbury stud or the premier sales facility at Karaka itself. 
I am deeply aware that this bill has been a long time coming and that its genesis probably did originate from the Ernst and Young report commissioned by the National – New Zealand First Government back in 1997. It has taken a long time for the bill to reach its final form and it is quite evident that the three codes are of one mind in wanting the bill to be progressed. It has also been said that the bill itself is not perfect. I note the efforts of my colleague Lindsay Tisch who has spent a great deal of energy and effort on every branch of the industry that would talk to him—and I must say that that represents many many hours of meetings—in order to help achieve a better shape for this bill. Lindsay Tisch put up a very important and constructive amendment to clause 15(3) but unfortunately the Government did not take any notice of it. He also urged that some of the major concerns of the wider industry be noted in terms of addressing depreciation rates of stallions and mares and of correcting the disincentives in New Zealand that have brought about the high use of shuttle stallions. That results in profits not being retained in New Zealand and the steady decline in stallion numbers. National in its formal policy said that it will support investment in the bloodstock industry. We will allow accelerated write-off of stallions over 2 years. That will encourage investment in breeding rather than the leasing of shuttle stallions. We will allow the write-off of brood mares in full from age 12 years and we will review the inequity in the taxation duties over gaming activities. That certainly beats the Labour Government’s record. All it did was forgive the GST on dead horses—quite extraordinary. 
During the Committee stage of this bill National aired its concern that the Government spent considerable money on the PricewaterhouseCoopers report—which it commissioned and which was published as far back as July 2002—and subsequently on the racing industry working group. As we have heard the racing industry working-group submissions were to have been finally submitted not tomorrow but the next day—Saturday 8 March. It does seem utterly nonsensical that the Government would spend significant funds on those reports involve the time and effort of a considerable number of people in the industry then bring this bill into the House before the benefits of that work were considered particularly after the Government has had 3 long years to have the bill ready before last season’s racing began. Just 1 week’s delay after 3 long years could have made a difference and at least honoured all the work of the eminent people who compiled the working-group report. 
The ways of the Labour Government are erratic and incomprehensible. However it is good that the wishes of the three codes are generally embodied in the bill that we have before us. Many of the racing industry working-group’s recommendations could be applied in the future. As my colleague Lindsay Tisch has mentioned why should the Government have so much influence in the racing industry? National is pleased to support the passing of this bill. National recognises the huge potential of the racing industry but also the fact that over the last few decades there has been a steady downturn in its viability. We are very aware of the great employment opportunities within the racing codes and we are very keen to see wise governance in progressing the interests of racing. National wishes the racing industry a very prosperous and viable future and looks forward to the industry working well within the framework of this legislation. Hopefully the recommendations of the PricewaterhouseCoopers report and the working-party will not be ignored. 
Bill read a third time.