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Qld regions fear race-day cuts
11 Jul 2003
Plans to cut the number of country horse race meetings will slash about $18 million from southern Queensland economies and cost hundreds of jobs, a report commissioned by seven regional centres says.
Queensland Racing said in April it will reduce the number of race days at 25 country race clubs to reinforce the larger regional and metropolitan meetings.
The report estimates the total impact would be a cut in gross regional product of about $18 million and 377 full-time jobs.
Queensland Opposition racing spokesman Mike Horan says when the full impact of the loss of 163 (non-TAB) meetings across the state is taken into account, thousands of jobs would be lost and hundreds of millions taken out of regional and rural Queensland.
Tony Fitzgerald, Esk Racing chairman and spokesman for rural and regional racing centres, says the flow-on effect for small communities would be devastating. The social and economic impact goes right down the line, he said, even to the local butcher who doesn't sell any meat for the after-race barbecues.
Queensland Racing has responded to the report by stating it is not an adequate snapshot of the industry. The decision to restructure was made with a view to the entire racing industry, not just small pockets in the state's south-east, Queensland Racing chairman Bob Bentley said on July 10.
Australian Financial Review, 11/7/03.
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