Racing Regulation and Integrity Act 2024

Tasracing is, with respect to racing in Tasmania, responsible for – developing a vision for the racing industry; and promoting Tasmanian racing locally, nationally and internationally; and promoting the development of an efficient and effective racing industry; and promoting the development of an efficient and effective horse and greyhound breeding industry; and corporate governance, strategic direction and funding; and providing advice to the Minister and making appropriate policy recommendations for the development of racing; and attracting sponsorship income; and allocating race dates; and race programming; and developing and maintaining racing and training venues under its control; and providing training to people employed or otherwise engaged in the racing industry having regard to the Standards; and representing the Tasmanian racing industry on national and international controlling bodies and in national and international forums; and publishing racing industry journals; and approving, in a manner not inconsistent with the Corporations Act, the operating budgets of racing clubs; and assisting racing clubs with the promotion and marketing of major race meetings and race carnivals; and determining, in consultation with the relevant racing clubs for each code of racing, a fee or series of fees for a race field information publication approval for each code of racing; and negotiating, with broadcast providers, scheduling and revenue-sharing arrangements for the broadcast of Tasmanian racing, both nationally and internationally; and representing the State and the local industry on national bodies and in national forums generally concerned with integrity in racing and related matters; and such other functions as are prescribed.

Tasracing is also responsible for – developing policies, procedures and guidelines, in respect of its functions, that are conducive to integrity, and animal welfare, in racing; and reviewing and assessing the integrity of practices and participants, and animal welfare, for all codes of racing; and advising the Racing Integrity Committee about the performance of its functions, and the exercise of its powers, under this subsection; and implementing, coordinating and monitoring compliance with the Standards for all codes of racing; and controlling race nominations, acceptances, field selections, handicapping, barrier draws and scratchings in thoroughbred racing; and controlling race nominations, acceptances, field selections, handicapping, barrier draws and scratchings in harness racing; and controlling race nominations, gradings, field selections, box draws and scratchings in greyhound racing; and ensuring that the Rules of Racing for all codes of racing are properly enforced by stewards; and the administration and registration of racing clubs; and approving registrations under the Rules of Racing; and granting licences under the Rules of Racing; and the administration and registration of bookmakers and bookmaker’s agents; and making (by drawing up its own local rules and by adopting Australian Rules of Racing) the Rules of Racing, having regard to any advice and recommendations of the Commissioner; and developing a code of conduct to be complied with by persons registered, and persons licensed, under the Rules of Racing; and determining, in consultation with the Commissioner, the licence and registration fees payable pursuant to the Rules of Racing.

Tasracing has such other functions as are conferred or imposed on it by or under this or any other Act.

Subject to subsection (5), Tasracing has power to do such things as it considers necessary or convenient for, or in connection with, the exercise or performance of any power or function conferred or imposed on it by this or any other Act.

Tasracing must perform its functions and exercise its powers in accordance with the Rules of Racing.

In the performance of its functions and exercise of its powers under this Act, Tasracing or a representative of Tasracing is to meet with the Commissioner, racing clubs and racing industry associations at least once every 3 months and report to the Commissioner, racing clubs and racing industry associations the outcomes of those meetings.

Tasracing must seek and consider the advice of the Racing Integrity Committee before making any policies, procedures and guidelines in relation to integrity in racing and animal welfare.

Tasracing must advise, and consider the advice of, the Racing Integrity Committee in relation to the preparation and implementation of the annual integrity plan prepared under section 61.