Revised Racing Bill Will Go To The Cabinet
Racing Minister Annette King will take a revised racing bill to the Cabinet this month, and if the Government approves the bill it will be introduced to Parliament in the next few months.
Changes to the draft bill have been made after extensive discussions with the three code chairmen and industry sectors.
“I have talked to a wide range of racing people. Their response to the bill, which effectively merges the TAB and the Racing Industry Board, has been generally favourable, but there were some concerns about the appointment processes," Mrs King said.
“After constructive discussions this week with the codes we have agreed on some changes to those processes. I think the changes will clear the way for broader industry support for the new legislation. I am, therefore, pleased to put the bill forward to my colleagues knowing it is endorsed by the industry.”
NB: The proposed changes to the Racing Bill are attached.
Proposed
changes:
1. Membership of the Governing Body of the New
Zealand Racing Board
(1) The Governing Body of the New
Zealand Racing Board consists of seven members, acceptable
to the Minister, being-
(a) an independent chairperson
appointed by the Minister after consultation with the
industry;
(b) one person appointed by the Minister on the
direct nomination of New Zealand Thoroughbred
Racing;
(c) one person appointed by the Minister on the
direct nomination of Harness Racing New Zealand;
(d) one
person appointed by the Minister on the direct nomination of
the New Zealand Greyhound Racing Association;
and
(e) three persons appointed by the Minister on the
advice of the Nominations Advisory Panel referred to in
section 2, and following the nomination and consultation
process described in that section.
2. Nominations
Advisory Panel
(1) The Nominations Advisory Panel
consists of five members, being-
(a) the responsible
Minister, who will chair the panel;
(b) the independent
chairperson of the New Zealand Racing Board; and
(c) the
three chairpersons of the racing codes.
(2) The NAP shall
recommend to the Minister the appointment of three persons
to the Governing Body of the NZRB, under Section 1 (1)
(e).
(3) The NAP may not recommend the appointment of the
three persons unless
(a) the Minister has identified
the desired skills and qualifications of nominees and has
sought nominations of persons for appointment to the
NZRB;
(b) the recognised industry organisations have been
given a reasonable period during which to make nominations
(which must not be less than four weeks);
(c) the
Minister has distributed a list of all those persons who
have agreed to be nominated to serve on the NZRB to the
recognised industry organisations;
(d) the three codes
have consulted their affiliated recognised industry
organisations on the list of those persons nominated to
serve, and the codes have given those organisations a
reasonable opportunity to comment (not less than seven
days); and
(e) the NAP has met to consider the list of
those nominated to serve, taking into account the results of
the consultation with the recognised industry organisations
and the desired skills and qualifications;
(4) No person
can be appointed to serve on the NZRB under Section 1 (1)
(e) without first being considered for appointment by the
NAP.