weekly hansard - Queensland Parliament - Queensland Government

23 Aug 2005 Racing Venues Development Amendment Bill 2605
This bill is one that amends the Racing Venues Development Act 1982 to give the Governor in
Council greater discretion to approve the use of land by trustees appointed under the act, and this
includes discretion to make decisions with regard to purposes that are not directly related to the racing
industry. It does this by omitting from section 4(1B) of the Racing Venues Development Act the
requirement that the discretion only extends to racing related decisions and places in the act the more
broad term ‘for any other purpose’ as the test that must be satisfied under this discretionary power. As I
said at the outset, there is no problem with this on the face of it. Trustees of any club—and racing clubs
are no exception—have certain obligations, and this piece of legislation does not lessen these
obligations in any way. While there is always a need to keep an eye on these types of things to ensure
the extended power is not abused by trustees, there are plenty of safeguards in the legislation and there
is no need to object to any of the provisions.
I also notice that one of the groups consulted was the trustees of the Parklands Gold Coast Trust.
I also take this opportunity to congratulate all of the people who have contributed and continue to
contribute to making Gold Coast greyhound and harness racing what it is. I have had people come to
me praising the facilities there. I have gone along to the odd night meeting when I have had the chance,
and anyone would be hard-pressed to find a provincial track anywhere in Australia with comparable
facilities, infrastructure and ease of access. My family and I are also, as are other Gold Coast
members—the member for Southport and the member for Broadwater—looking forward to the Gold
Coast Show. It is like a mini Ekka but without the dramas of getting there and the associated crowds.
Also, it does not quite have the selection of show bags, which is good for indecisive children, and I have
three of those. I commend this bill to the House.
Mr FRASER (Mount Coot-tha—ALP) (4.19 pm): It is my pleasure to contribute briefly to the
debate on the Racing Venues Development Amendment Bill, which provides for land provided on trust
for racing purposes to be utilised for other purposes provided that that use goes to the ultimate benefit
for which that land has been granted—to that end, racing. This amendment is an enabling amendment.
As such, it does not of itself change the use of the land but it provides that the Parklands Gold Coast
Trust land, which is presently constituted under the Racing Venues Development Act, can be used for
purposes other than racing, provided that that use goes to the ultimate benefit of the original purpose of
the grant, which is racing.
I am happy to be frank and tell members the reason for my short contribution to the debate on this
bill. Many of us in this job are often asked why we go into politics. At the age of 26, I nominated to enter
politics. At that time a lot of people asked me what I thought I could achieve by going into politics.
Mr Hopper interjected.
Mr FRASER: I say to the member for Darling Downs that today, at the ripe old age of 28, I still get
asked that question a lot. I represent—and I am proud to represent—a very dynamic and very young
electorate. One in five people who vote in my electorate are aged between 18 and 24. To them I say that
the reason I am in politics is today I am voting for legislation that means that the Big Day Out can occur
in 2006. Certainly, those people may think it is quizzical that we need to pass this legislation to do that.
But I am sure they would not think it was quizzical if by the happenstance of legislation the Big Day Out
was prevented from occurring in 2006. Like the member for Broadwater, I admit to sinfully attending the
Big Day Out, in what might be described as, a few years ago. I do not want to press my luck by talking
about ‘back in my day’ at this point.
Nevertheless, this bill is important because it provides for a sound legal basis upon which the Big
Day Out can occur. That of itself speaks volumes about the relevance of politics—the relevance of
government—and how it touches people in their everyday lives. To the good young folk who live in my
electorate, I say to them that this afternoon I got to vote for the Big Day Out. That is a touchstone of why
they should take politics seriously, why they should turn up to vote, and why they should think about the
way they exercise their vote. I commend the bill to the House.
Mr HOBBS (Warrego—NPA) (4.21 pm): I am pleased to speak to the Racing Venues
Development Amendment Bill 2005. As other members have mentioned, this bill removes the
requirement for any future activity on land set aside for the Parklands Gold Coast Trust to be connected
with racing. Presently, the only trust established under the Racing Venues Development Act is the
Parklands Gold Coast Trust. The minister stated in his second reading speech that ‘at this stage’
any amendments to this act affected only the Parklands Gold Coast Trust. Applications could be made
by another club. The question is: which club could that be? The minister did not say ‘never’; he said ‘at
this stage’. So there is the possibility that this legislation could affect other areas. It is highly unlikely that
it would, but it could. I think that is an important point to note.
Some of the uses of this land by third parties that are permitted by the trustees are now
inconsistent with the purposes of the trust. That also often occurs with leasehold land. Often there are
arguments about the activities that can occur on such land. So it is appropriate that the act is amended
so that trusts that operate under it can operate legally. Otherwise there could be some implications.
Currently, the situation is that 70 per cent of the income generated by that trust comes from nonracing
activities. That indicates that the act needs to have flexibility. But it also should ensure that racing
takes priority. With 70 per cent of the income generated by that trust coming from non-racing activities, it