Jann Stuckey
The LNP fears country racing in Queensland faces a gloomy future, saying the State Government has failed to rule out funding cuts to the industry.
Shadow Racing Minister Jann Stuckey said “an inexperienced Labor Government and Minister who fostered a culture of fear and uncertainty” was threatening the lifeblood of rural and regional communities across the state.
“When asked in Parliament, Minister (Bill) Byrne refused to rule out cuts to prize money and funding for regional race meets and failed to provide any certainty for communities that rely so heavily on country racing,” Ms Stuckey said.
“The former LNP government boosted prize money and committed an additional $4 million over four years for country racing because we recognised its significant benefits to local economies across regional Queensland.
“The Minister refuses to provide any comfort to the folk who reply on this industry and the communities who rely so heavily on this support.
“It beggars belief that, at a time when rural and regional Queensland is facing its worst drought in history, the Palaszczuk Labor Government looks set to pull the pin on an industry that provides immeasurable economic and social benefits to these communities.
“The Minister needs to come clean and reveal his plan to starve regional communities of their country racing.”
Ms Stuckey said country race meetings had almost halved under Labor in the past.
She said the LNP had “turned this around” when it was in power.
“In 2014-15 some 279 country race meetings were held throughout Queensland, but Labor’s planned cuts to prize money and the number of races looks set to cripple an industry that employs 30,000 people in this State,” she said.
