Director Gains Power to Investigate Racing Industry and Manage Racecourse Licences, and Fines for Ignoring Director's Directions
Racing and Wagering Amendment Bill 2026
Topics
animal welfare conflict of interest gambling regulation government oversight greyhound racing horse racing professional licensing racecourse licensing racing industry sports betting
Introduced by: The Hon Marie-Clare Boothby MLA (CLP)
Links to official parliament websites
Effects of this bill
If this bill passes, it means that:
The Debate
What different members said when this bill was debated:
“Madam Speaker, I present a Bill titled Racing and Wagering Amendment Bill 2025, Serial 27, and table the explanatory statement. I move that the Bill be read a first time.”
Steven Edgington CLP
“Madam Speaker, I move that the motion on the committee referral regarding the Indigenous Employment Provisional Sum, as agreed to by the Assembly on 14 May 2025, be amended by omitting clause (c) and inserting new clause (c): implementation of the Auditor-General’s recommendations by the former Department of Infrastructure, Planning and Logistics and the outcomes delivered to date.”
Selena Uibo ALP
“Madam Speaker, could I ask a question about the process? Madam SPEAKER: Certainly. Ms UIBO: In terms of knowing when a debate is coming back, what standing order should we be prepared for and how would we get the referral in regard to notices for that in order to make sure we are aware of what is coming on and in what order?”
Chanston Paech ALP
“Mr Deputy Speaker, the Territory Labor opposition supports this Bill. The legislation clearly builds on the work of the former Labor government to modernise the racing and wagering framework in the Northern Territory. That work was long overdue. For decades our regulatory framework remained largely unchanged, despite the digital revolution and the dramatic rise of online betting.”
“Madam Speaker, I thank the Chief Minister for bringing to the Chamber this ministerial statement on 2026, the year ahead. I thank members for voting in favour of the motion I brought in the February sittings about supporting genuine partnership with Aboriginal communities. That was a good start to 2026, and I felt uplifted by it, but it needs to be backed up by real action.”
Laurie Zio CLP
“Madam Speaker, we are at the beginning of another parliamentary year, although we have moved forward to March. I will take a moment to reflect on what unites us as Members of the Legislative Assembly; that is, it is our shared duty to serve the people who place their trust in us. For me, that is the people of Fannie Bay, Parap, Ludmilla, Coconut Grove and The Gardens.”
Bill Yan CLP
“Madam Speaker, this government strongly supports the racing industry in the Northern Territory, which contributes about $120m annually to our economy. It supports jobs all the way across the Territory and plays a vital role in our regional communities. This is relevant when you look at what took place the other weekend in Central Australia with the Alice Springs Cup.”
Ed Smelt ALP
“Madam Speaker, at the outset it is important to acknowledge that this Bill is primarily a governance and structural reform Bill. As outlined in the public material, the legislation seeks to separate the racing and wagering functions, establish a new governance model for racing administration and modernise elements of the regulatory framework surrounding wagering in the Northern Territory.”