Legislation to ensure country race clubs get greater share of TAB profits

6/12/95

The State Government will ensure that country race clubs will receive a greater proportion of the TAB profits which go to racing, but the change should be brought about by planning and negotiation, according to Racing and Gaming Minister Max Evans.

Rejecting an Opposition proposal that the country clubs' share of the funds should be legislated at 36.3 per cent, Mr Evans said country clubs and the industry as a whole would benefit from having greater flexibility in determining the distribution.

At present, the distribution to country clubs was set at 28.09 per cent.

Mr Evans said amendments to the legislation presented to Parliament would enable this figure to be changed by regulation.

This would give the country clubs and the WATC the opportunity to plan changes within a total view of the industry's needs and activities.

Factors that could be considered would include the administrative costs borne by the WATC on behalf of country clubs - such as the provision of stewards - and the distribution policies of the country clubs, including the provision of proportionately very large amounts for single feature events.

"If we simply increase the figure to an arbitrary 36.3 per cent there will be many issues left unresolved," Mr Evans said.

"However, if we use the process of regulation, the Government will be able to ensure that change occurs, but the industry will be able to ensure that the change occurs within the context of its own overall planning and on a timetable that does not cause problems.

"I can assure the industry that I will be informing the WATC that change will occur, but I want it to occur on an intelligently planned basis."

Media contact:  Hugh Ryan 221 5468