National Party Racing policy
Lindsay Tisch MP
National Party Racing Spokesman
3 November 2008
National Party Racing policy
National's Racing policy recognises that there is a growing acceptance that racing, breeding and ownership are facets of a unique agribusiness that involves many small business people, says National's Racing spokesman, Lindsay Tisch.
"New Zealand racing contributes about $1.5 billion per annum to the economy, supports more than 18,300 full time jobs, and exports $130 million of horses.
"The 2004 IER Size and Scope of New Zealand Racing Industry study revealed that the industry has a significant role in critical areas of community building, family education and training, healt,h leisure, employment and environment."
National's Racing Policy focuses on four major issues. They are:
* Biosecurity - ensuring New Zealand is safe from biosecurity threats such as equine influenza.
* National will ensure that protocols to combat biosecurity threats are in place.
* Supporting the racing industry's intellectual property from non-contributing betting operators.
* National will ensure the Department of Internal Affairs has unrestricted access to online betting information surrounding suspect transactions and we will oppose the introduction of betting exchanges.
* Maximising the benefits available through internationalisation.
* National will monitor the development of internationalisation and opportunities for co-mingling of betting pools to ensure that any benefits are realised.
* Supporting racing events and safety.
* National will retain the current Racing Promotion and Sponsorship Scheme and the Racing Safety Development Fund.
Ends
To view National's Racing policy visit: http://national.org.nz/files/2008/racing_policy.pdf