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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
2606 Racing Venues Development Amendment Bill 23 Aug 2005 is easy to see how some decisions could be based on the economic return of the trust and not based on the original purpose of the trust. The member for Toowoomba South also made that point in his contribution. The member for Darling Downs also made the point in his contribution that the bill should be amended to show that, in any decision that is made, racing takes priority. Sure, the trust will work that out and make that decision, but the possibility exists that trusts could be taken over by various interest groups that may decide that other functions would take priority over racing. If that occurs, an area that for a long time has been allocated for racing purposes could end up being used for racing in only a minor way. Most race clubs that I know of hold many functions on their grounds. I am sure the Speaker would be aware that race clubs in his area—as do most race clubs in bush areas—hold all sorts of functions on their grounds. In that regard I do not know of any complications that could occur, but I ask the minister to give the assurance that other race clubs that are not trusts constituted under the Racing Venues Development Act 1982 do not have any concerns about the type of activities that occur on their grounds. Basically, the government has handled racing fairly poorly. That is acknowledged throughout the industry. I know the minister does not agree with that. The other day he said in this House that we have had full fields at country tracks and, therefore, all is well. But that is not so. The reason the fields are full is that so many race meetings have been cut. That is the simple reason. Mr SCHWARTEN: Mr Deputy Speaker— Mr HOBBS: The minister has a glass jaw. Mr DEPUTY SPEAKER (Mr English): Order! There is a point of order. Mr SCHWARTEN: Mr Deputy Speaker, there has been a ruling made from your chair this afternoon about relevance. There is no relevance whatsoever to the Parklands— Mr Hobbs: It’s not a point of order at all. Mr SCHWARTEN: Mr Deputy Speaker, I am asking you to rule on the relevance of this. Mr Hobbs: Who’s the Speaker here? Mr SCHWARTEN: I beg your pardon? Mr Deputy Speaker, I am asking for your ruling on the relevance of what the honourable member is putting here. Mr DEPUTY SPEAKER (Mr English): Order! Thank you, Minister. I will give the member a couple of minutes to come back to the bill. Mr HOBBS: You have got a bit of a glass jaw, mate. Mr DEPUTY SPEAKER (Mr English): Order! You will direct your comments through the chair. Mr HOBBS: Through you, Mr Deputy Speaker, I was just thinking that he has a glass jaw. Mr SCHWARTEN: With respect— Mr DEPUTY SPEAKER: Order! Mr HOBBS: He has. Mr SCHWARTEN: The rules of this parliament include one of relevance. I make no apology for standing here and asking for the rules of the parliament to be upheld. I know the member holds them in contempt—we know that—but I am asking for that to be ruled on. Mr HOBBS: This bill before the House today is important. It offers us an opportunity to talk about the racing industry and the issues that are of concern to us. This legislation before the House could involve any racing club at all. The minister said in his second reading speech ‘at this stage’. Mr DEPUTY SPEAKER: Order! There has been a ruling made on relevance. We are not debating the ruling. Please come back to the bill. Mr HOBBS: I am back at the bill. I am saying that the Parklands Gold Coast Trust is the only trust established under the Racing Venues Development Act. The government is saying that at this stage that is the only trust that is affected by this legislation. Others could be affected. I am saying to the minister that other clubs could experience complications because of this legislation. That is why there is a need for the legislation to be amended. In the minister’s second reading speech he said that 70 per cent of the income generated by the Parklands Gold Coast Trust came from non-racing activities. I make the point that if racing is strong, a higher percentage of income will come back to the race clubs, particularly the smaller race clubs and the regional race clubs. So what I am talking about has absolute relevance. Because of the way in which the minister is driving racing, we have fewer race clubs and they are becoming less viable. Yes, in the past we have had some very successful race meetings. But the reason we have had successful race meetings is not more horses on the field; the minister has reduced the number of race meetings that are held in <strong>Queensland</strong>. Mr SCHWARTEN: Mr Deputy Speaker— Mr HOBBS: If the minister cannot take it—
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PROOF ISSN 1322-0330 WEEKLY HANSARD
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Table of Contents — Tuesday, 23 A
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2536 Papers 23 Aug 2005 PAPERS PAPE
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2538 Ministerial Statement 23 Aug 2
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2550 Scrutiny of Legislation Commit
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2552 Private Members’ Statements
Page 23 and 24: 2554 Questions Without Notice 23 Au
Page 33 and 34: 2564 Members’ Ethics and Parliame
Page 35 and 36: 2566 Matters of Public Interest 23
Page 45 and 46: 2576 Constitutional and Other Legis
Page 47 and 48: 2578 Transport Legislation Amendmen
Page 49 and 50: 2580 Transport Legislation Amendmen
Page 51 and 52: 2582 Housing Legislation Amendment
Page 53 and 54: 2584 Education (Queensland College
Page 55 and 56: 2586 Succession Amendment Bill 23 A
Page 57 and 58: 2588 Succession Amendment Bill 23 A
Page 59 and 60: 2590 Queensland Competition Authori
Page 69 and 70: 2600 Racing Venues Development Amen
Page 73: 2604 Racing Venues Development Amen
Page 81 and 82: 2612 Plumbing and Drainage and Othe
Page 99 and 100: 2630 Child Safety Legislation Amend
Page 111 and 112: 2642 Adjournment 23 Aug 2005 One pa
Page 113 and 114: 2644 Adjournment 23 Aug 2005 years.
Page 115: 2646 Adjournment 23 Aug 2005 Finall
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