MEMBER for Mildura Jade Benham has declared her support for an amendment to horse racing laws that she says will help keep racegoers safe.
The Racing Amendment (Unauthorised Access) Bill 2022 seeks to amend the Racing Act 1958.
It would prohibit unauthorised access to certain areas of the racecourses during race meetings and official trial meetings and for other purposes.
It also has a purpose to prohibit certain disruptive conduct during race meetings and official meetings and to provide enforcement of those new offences.
“There has been a lot of talk today about how racing, particularly country racing, is such a vital part of life in the bush,” Ms Benham told Parliament on Thursday.
“This bill will enhance the community’s safety whilst they are enjoying this pastime, and not just in terms of the economy either but in terms of the social fabric in small towns right throughout the state – not just in my electorate of 36,500 square kilometres but right throughout the state.”
She said the Mildura Harness Racing Club, headed by president Pud MacDonald and his team, was a hospitable club and growing at a huge rate, going from 24 meetings a year to 45 meetings a year.
“More often than not – most of the time – that is a 12-race program, 45 weeks of the year, with average prize money of about $85,000,” Ms Benham said.
“Most of those trainers, drivers and horse breeders are local, but they do come from Bendigo and they come from right around our tri-state area.
“Country races of all disciplines, like I said, are an important part of rural life, and protecting this is vital and protecting the people that enjoy the races, as well as the horses, the breeders, the drivers and the jockeys, is as well.
“This bill seeks to do that, which is why we are in full support.”
