The Rockliff Liberal Government is acting to protect the integrity and probity of Tasmanian racing and to strengthen animal welfare outcomes.
The Government is today releasing the final Murrihy Report, in full and with no redactions, from independent investigator Ray Murrihy that relates to allegations of team driving, race fixing and animal welfare concerns in the Tasmanian harness racing industry and the management of those issues by the Office of Racing Integrity.
Minister for Racing, Felix Ellis, said that Tasmanian harness racing has a long and distinguished history of champion horses and drivers, but the release of this Report marks a dark day for racing in Tasmania.
“The Report clearly demonstrates a regulator that has serious issues relating to complaints handling, a lack of policies and procedures, lack of leadership, accountability and transparency,” Minister Ellis said.
“The Report makes findings that individuals within the industry have engaged in team driving, race fixing and animal abuse.
“This is not good enough by anyone's standards and demonstrates what can happen when a regulatory model fails. We cannot walk past the findings in this report – we won't walk past it, and we are taking action.
“The Tasmanian Government will abolish the Office of Racing Integrity and overhaul the whole system.
“We will deliver this reform through the Racing Regulation and Integrity Bill 2023 to establish a Tasmanian Racing Industry Commissioner, a tough new cop on the beat who will have powers to set integrity and welfare standards. This Bill will be a priority for our Government when Parliament resumes this year.
“Mr Murrihy also states that the racing model itself requires a major overhaul to improve competition on the racetrack. Fierce competition is the industry’s best safeguard against team driving and race fixing.
“If the industry is to survive, Tasracing needs to improve competition immediately, even if this means some short-term pain with smaller fields and reduced race programs.
“Tasracing has committed $250,000 to assist with training for stewards and for RSPCA investigations into animal abuse outlined in the Murrihy Report.
“Given the findings, we have established an independent stewards’ panel of harness racing and integrity experts to investigate and determine charges.
“This is the next step in our pathway to improving the integrity that underpins racing, and we will not stop.
“This Panel was established on 22 January, and it was important that this was finalised before releasing this report. I want to thank these Stewards who have come from Queensland and Victoria.
“All races referred to in the Murrihy Report, including an additional 15 races, will be scrutinised by the new stewards’ panel. The panel will also consider matters relating to the administration of injections and medications.
“Animal welfare matters, including allegations of mistreatment of horses, have been referred to the RSPCA and Biosecurity Tasmania for investigation.
“The Secretary of NRETas will now oversee an Implementation Committee which will be responsible for progressing the findings of the Murrihy Report and that Committee will report directly to me. Reports on progress will be published in full every quarter to ensure transparency, with the first report due on March 31.
“The Tasmanian racing industry generates more than $208 million in economic activity for Tasmania and involves more than 6400 people across the State. It is a way of life for many Tasmanians and the Government wants to ensure it continues and flourishes.
“Strong leadership is now required to address these failures and ensure that accountability and integrity underpin the racing industry we love - otherwise we risk losing harness racing in Tasmania,” Minister Ellis said.
The Tasmanian Government thanks Mr Murrihy for his Report and also to those brave individuals who took the time to make submissions.
The Final Murrihy Review is available at: www.nre.tas.gov.au