Select Committee on Jumps Racing
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PP 291 FINAL REPORT of the SELECT COMMITTEE ON JUMPS RACING November 2016 Tabled in the House of Assembly and published pursuant to Standing Order 346 30 November 2016 Second Session, Fifty-Third Parliament Contents 1. EXECUTIVE SUMMARY........................................................................................................ 3 2. INTRODUCTION BY THE CHAIR ............................................................................................ 5 3. ESTABLISHMENT OF THE COMMITTEE .............................................................................. 7 3.1 Appointment of the Committee...................................................................................... 7 3.2 Membership .................................................................................................................... 7 3.3 Terms of Reference........................................................................................................ 7 3.4 Disclosure of Evidence............................................................................................... 8 3.5 Conduct of Inquiry....................................................................................................... 8 4. SUMMARY LIST OF RECOMMENDATIONS .................................................................... 10 4.1 RECOMMENDATIONS – OVERVIEW....................................................................... 11 4.1.1 Future Direction ........................................................................................................... 11 4.1.2 Research and Data Collection.................................................................................... 11 4.1.3 Safety Planning and Risk Mitigation .......................................................................... 12 4.1.4 Safeguarding Animal Welfare..................................................................................... 13 4.1.5 Wastage and Overbreeding in the Thoroughbred Racing Industry......................... 14 5. RECOMMENDATIONS AND RATIONALE ........................................................................ 15 5.1 Public Submissions ...................................................................................................... 48 APPENDICES............................................................................................................................... 75 APPENDIX 1 - Abbreviations and Acronyms ................................................................... 75 APPENDIX 2 – Written Submissions ................................................................................ 76 APPENDIX 3 – Form Variation Submissions ................................................................... 95 APPENDIX 4 – Witnesses ............................................................................................... 118 APPENDIX 5 – Papers Received.................................................................................... 119 1. EXECUTIVE SUMMARY The House of Assembly passed a resolution on 23 September 2015, on the motion of the Minister for Agriculture, Food and Fisheries, Forests, Tourism, Recreation and Sport, and Racing, the Hon. L.W. Bignell M.P., for the appointment of a Select Committee to inquire into and report on jumps racing in South Australia and in particular: (a) whether or not it should be banned; and (b) any related matters. The findings of this report are presented in two sections, recommendations & rationale and public submissions, which draw on and summarise the key arguments presented to the Committee through submissions, hearings and research studies. The Committee has considered and used evidence from these sources to produce 28 recommendations, which are grouped under five main headings and reflect critical areas of concern that must be addressed for jumps racing in South Australia (S.A.) to continue. The Committee found that jumps racing in S.A. should not be banned but that its continuation should be conditional on the industry meeting the broad areas for improvement outlined in the recommendations, over the next three years. It is clear to the Committee that jumps racing presents a greater risk of injury or fatality to horses and jockeys than flat racing, with steeplechase races presenting the greatest risk. It is, however, also evident that the implementation of several measures since 2010 has made the sport safer, as evidenced by a reduction in horse fatalities in our State in recent seasons. The recommendations on the future direction of jumps racing, and the conditions upon which it may continue, aim to address gaps in research and data collection, matters concerning transparency and accountability in industry practices, the need for safety planning and risk mitigation to direct continuous improvement objectives, and for additional duty of care measures to safeguard animal welfare. The recommendation on the terms of reference concerning any related matters addresses wastage and overbreeding in the thoroughbred racing industry. The discarding of horses no longer considered useful to the industry is an area of considerable concern to the Committee. The industry must do more to determine the proportion of racehorses that go to slaughter, the reasons for this and the contribution of breeding practices to their fate. The intent of the Committee’s recommendations is to see the industry achieve best practice in all aspects of its endeavours, with a focus on ensuring continuous improvement in the safety of the sport for both horses and riders. The public submissions reflect the multifaceted arguments advanced by opponents and supporters of jumps racing. They establish the contextual basis of the concerns raised and outline developments that have contributed to the current environment in which the industry operates. This includes an overview of the key reviews and inquiries on the safety performance of jumps racing that have resulted in improvements to safety standards and practices. 3 While there is considerable disagreement and contestation of arguments posed by those who support and oppose a ban on jumps racing, the Committee is satisfied that it is in the interests of all to gain the industry’s co-operation in striving to achieve the best possible safety and animal welfare outcomes in this sport and in the racing industry more broadly. The Committee site visit to Mount Gambier (Committee Members L to R: Mr Bell, Dr McFetridge and the Hon. Michael Atkinson) 4 2. INTRODUCTION BY THE CHAIR During the course of this Inquiry, the Committee has welcomed contributions from more than one thousand interested individuals and organisations, who have represented a broad spectrum of views through their submissions and evidence at hearings. The Committee has taken the time to gain a thorough understanding of the evidence available from research and arguments advanced in favour of or opposing a ban on jumps racing and other related matters. The information we have received has been supplemented by first-hand knowledge of the industry and its practices, gained from site visits to rural and regional racing clubs in South Australia and Victoria. We have carefully considered the impact a ban would have on the many individuals, businesses and communities that would be most affected, the welfare of the horses and ethical concerns that underpin the position of those who oppose this activity. The Committee acknowledges that jumps racing has been a unique part of South Australian history since 1876. Generations of South Australians have grown up with the tradition of attending the picnic races at the Oakbank Easter Carnival, which is now regarded as the largest meeting of its kind in the world. The Great Eastern and Von Doussa steeplechase races have gained iconic status, attracting visitors from across Australia and overseas. The Committee is satisfied that jumps racing at Oakbank, and in other rural communities in which it takes place in South Australia, provides a financial boost to regional tourism and local businesses. This industry supports and sustains a small but dedicated group of owners and trainers, and in turn, jockeys, strappers, farriers, veterinarians, equipment and feed suppliers and many others who count on this industry to make a living. We have heard from those with family connections to jumps racing that go back more than a century and others who have spent their entire working lives in this industry. From these encounters, we have formed the view that the jumps racing community loves its sport and the horses upon which it relies. There is, however, no question that jumps racing carries greater risk of injury and fatality to horses than flat racing. This is well documented. The majority of the submissions we received legitimately expressed concerns for the safety and welfare of horses participating in jumps races. It is clear from these submissions that there is a widespread public sentiment for a greater duty of care to animals, particularly those involved in sports. Among the submissions were passionate pleas from members of the public who saw no place in our society for cruelty to animals and those who find jumps racing abhorrent, leading only to death and suffering. Others argued that a hallmark of a progressive society is how we treat our animals. As a society we do not and must not tolerate cruelty to animals. To guard against this, needless or explicit cruelty is illegal and enforceable under the Animal Welfare Act 1985. We must acknowledge changing community attitudes and values that require