MY CALL: QUEENSLAND STATE GOVERNMENT SUPPORT FOR THE RACING INDUSTRY IS MORE VITAL THAN EVER

By David Fowler | Tuesday, May 5, 2020

David Fowler's Press Room editorial on Radio TAB earlier this week contained an important message with regard to the 'teamwork' that will be required between racing authorities and the state government if the sport to get back on an even keel in the coming months. That editorial is repeated in full here in David's 'My Call' column, courtesy of Radio TAB

A question worth considering in these extraordinary times is the strength of the relationship between the Queensland racing industry and the Palaszczuk State Government.

One would think it should be quite robust if judged in the prism of the corona virus pandemic. Today we head into our eighth week of patron free and quarantined racing with some relaxations implemented.

Racing participants have performed admirably on all fronts in this almost two month scenario. Not a glitch in sight and the Government would be well aware of that.

Racing has kept a lot of people in jobs at a time when unemployment figures are spiralling elsewhere and its very continuance has maintained cash flows to Treasury’s coffers.

And while the industry appreciates the opportunity to “play on”, it’s far from a bright picture, presently, short term or long term.

Our Carnival has been crippled with the loss of key black type races and the big prizemoney that comes with it. Opportunities lost to all sections of the industry.

That’s the present, which is bad enough, but what of the short or long term outlook.

Again, all sections of the industry face uncertain commercial futures but it goes without saying it isn’t going to be better than what it was.

Racing has been a loyal servant to the Government particularly in this current predicament. It will need help when it transitions out of this

They say money doesn’t grow on trees but you might genuinely question that when you see what has been given away over the last six weeks.

Yet there are areas in Queensland racing where new money doesn’t have to be found but where monies can be redirected. This is vitally important to understand.

For example, the cost of QRIC is borne by Racing Queensland. Something in the order of $16 million.

Imagine if that cost was redirected to another state Government department. My investigations suggest such a shift is not beyond the realms of possibility.

And what about the Point Of Consumption tax intake by the State Government. I’m reliably informed that intake figure is rising, not falling .

It’s a tax generated by the industry so why can’t the return be higher to the business. Again, a redirection of an already existing income stream.

And shovel ready infrastructure projects need a cash injection. The state government surely realise getting these off the ground is good for business.

These are but a few suggestions that could significantly lessen the pain post pandemic.
It’s an election year. There is ample fertile ground for that robust relationship we spoke of earlier to be even more robust.

It might be a case of I’ll scratch your back if you scratch mine.

David Fowler