NSW New Oversight for Racing NSW

Thoroughbred Racing Amendment (Racing NSW Accountability) Bill 2024

Independent Bill

13 Nov 2024: MPs in the first house are debating whether this bill is a good idea in principle.

Legislative Council

Legislative Assembly

Assent

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Topics

corruption prevention government accountability horse racing parliamentary oversight public audit thoroughbred racing

Introduced by: Mark Latham MLC (IND)

Links to official parliament websites

Official page: progress through parliament

Official page: bill text and explanatory notes

Effects of this bill

If this bill passes, it means that:

The Minister for Racing can now sack members of Racing NSW (chairperson, Chief Executive, whoever).
A selection panel must be formed six months before the end of a member's term to recommend new appointments. The panel is required to consider factors like gender diversity when preparing their list of recommendations for new members or key leadership roles, such as the Chairperson or Deputy Chairperson.
The Thoroughbred Racing Act must be reviewed every five years, including consultation with relevant stakeholders, and a report tabled in parliament.

News articles and press releases

Thoroughbred Racing Amendment (Racing NSW Accountability) Bill 2024

The Hon. MARK LATHAM — 2024-11-13

First, Racing NSW is to be accountable to the Parliament—that is, at budget estimates hearings and under Standing Order 52, the power to compel the production of documents, which Racing NSW has consistently rejected. The point is absolutely relevant. As jurists have consistently said, how can this Chamber make better laws about an organisation that is created like Racing NSW if it does not have documents available to it demonstrating the strengths and weaknesses of what has been happening at the organisation itself? Obviously, to make better laws and to be better legislators, we need to have our Standing Order 52 call for papers power over Racing NSW. The second change is for Racing NSW’s finances to be subject to audit by the NSW Auditor‑General.