21/10/02
Racing and Gaming Minister Nick Griffiths today overruled the Western Australian Trotting Association's decision to relocate 16 meetings from the Wagin, Geraldton, Cunderdin and Bridgetown clubs to Gloucester Park.
Mr Griffiths directed the WATA to revert to its original schedule of country race dates, following November 1, under which the relocated meetings were to have been held at York, Narrogin and Northam.
That original schedule had been approved by the WA Country Trotting Association in consultation with the WATA and the clubs involved.
The Minister took today's action after the Wagin, Geraldton, Bridgetown and Cunderdin clubs wrote to him, and to the WATA, strongly objecting to the decision to relocate their meetings and asking for their reinstatement.
"Not having received any advice from the association in regard to reinstating the meetings, each of the clubs further informed me that they were in dispute with the association in relation to this matter and sought my intervention in accordance with the Racing Restriction Act 1917," he said today.
"The WATA was asked to show cause in writing why the power specified in the Act should not be exercised in the way proposed by the country clubs.
"I received the WATA's response on Friday, October 18."
Mr Griffiths said the WATA had not provided any detailed analysis of the decreased costs to participants and the increased revenues it expected from its decision to relocate the 16 race meetings to Gloucester Park. More importantly, it had not provided a strategic plan for the industry against which to assess their actions in this regard.
"The WATA's proposal presented a significant threat to the continued viability of the four country harness racing clubs concerned, and I was not convinced that the potential benefits identified by the WATA would outweigh the likely negative impacts on these clubs and their respective communities," the Minister said.
Section 3(2) of the Racing Restriction Act 1917 states:
'Where the Western Australian Trotting Association proposes to make any change to the program of trotting race meetings customarily conducted within the metropolitan area and the proposed change may necessitate a reduction in the number of trotting race meetings customarily conducted outside the metropolitan area or the making of any other change to any program of trotting race meetings customarily conducted outside the metropolitan area, any dispute arising in relation to the matter may be referred to the Minister who may give the Association such directions as he sees fit in relation to the matter and effect shall be given to any such direction.'
In relation to these provisions, Mr Griffiths said that he was satisfied that:
- the association proposed to make changes to the program of trotting race meetings customarily conducted within the metropolitan area;
- the proposed changes would necessitate a reduction in the number of trotting race meetings customarily conducted outside the metropolitan area; and
- a dispute had arisen in relation to this matter, which had been referred to him to intervene.
"I am of the opinion that I should exercise the power conferred on me by section 3(2) of the Act to issue a direction to the association to reinstate the race meetings currently the subject of dispute," Mr Griffiths said.
He said the reasons for his opinion that he should exercise this power were:
- the decision taken by the association would not foster nor extend the sport of trotting throughout Western Australia;
- in each case the meetings to be relocated represented more than 50 per cent of the meetings customarily conducted by the harness racing club concerned and such a reduction in racing activity would have a significant negative impact on each of the clubs;
- the WA Country Trotting Association agreed to an original schedule of country race dates on July 19, 2002, which included the race meetings proposed for relocation and together with full coverage of the Tuesday/Wednesday Sky Channel slots. This schedule of race meetings was released on August 2.
The WATA announced on September 2 that it intended changing the 16 meetings to be relocated to Gloucester Park. Of the 16, seven would be taken from the Wagin club (leaving it five for the 2002-03 season); five from Geraldton (leaving it three); three from Cunderdin and one from Bridgetown (leaving both with just one meeting).
Mr Griffiths said he was disappointed that it was necessary to intervene when the WATA, as the principal club, had not been able to reach agreement or obtain the support of the country harness racing clubs regarding the allocation of race dates.
Minister's office: 9222 8950
