Review into speedway opened for public comment

22/11/95

The State Government has opened for public comment a review into speedway. 

Releasing the report today, Sport and Recreation Minister Norman Moore said the State Government's Speedway Review Committee had made 34 recommendations to improve the sport.

Its major recommendation was that the sport undertake a co-ordinated approach to upgrading spectator safety.

The review committee said that speedway was not necessarily a dangerous sport, but competitor and spectator safety should be continually evaluated and upgraded.

The committee, headed by Colin Philippson, found that the efforts of the various speedway bodies to ensure quality control of safety standards and industry education could be improved if co-ordinated across the sport.

Speedway in Western Australia had no formal organisational structure, but operated through affiliations between promoters, clubs and controlling bodies.

Mr Moore said a major recommendation was for the formation of a peak body to provide a framework within which the sport could operate in WA.

The review committee has also called for the appointment of an interim commission to plan and co-ordinate the formation of a peak body.

"The committee has put forward a wide range of recommendations - ranging from safety and insurance matters to how speedway should develop," the Minister said.

He said the report would be open for public comment for three months.

Media contact: Anabel Gomez 321 1444

(Copies of the report are available from the Ministry of Sport and Recreation phone 387 9786)