An independent Tasmanian MLC will push for a parliamentary inquiry into the state-owned company responsible for the administration of the racing industry, after the second important race meeting in six weeks had to be called off in Hobart on Sunday. Ivan Dean, the member for Windermere in the upper house, said he would be "very surprised" if he couldn't get the requisite support from the committee he chairs to establish an inquiry into Tasracing. His comments follow the abandonment of the $100,000 Tasmanian Guineas thoroughbred race meeting on Sunday due to damage to the track at the Elwick Racecourse in Glenorchy. It's now been rescheduled for Wednesday. "[MLCs] asked a number of questions [of Tasracing] during the [government business enterprise hearings] ... on the state of the tracks and so on," Mr Dean said. "And we were being assured that the [Elwick] track was in good condition, it was standing up well, it was reacting to the works that they'd done on it and so on and there were no real issues and problems with it." "To see this happen, so shortly thereafter, makes you wonder what the hell's going on." Mr Dean said he intended to convene a meeting of the Legislative Council's six-member Sessional Committee Government Administration B to discuss the option of standing up an inquiry into Tasracing. "The committee members are well and truly aware of a lot of the issues that are occurring in Tasracing at the present time, I can assure you of that," he said. According to the independent MLC, the terms of reference for the prospective inquiry would likely cover off on Tasracing's financial position and the maintenance of tracks. The postponement of the Elwick race meeting comes little more than a month after the 3YO Cup meeting at Mowbray had to be called off because holes were found in the track. Tasracing chief executive Paul Eriksson said on Sunday that the Elwick postponement was disappointing and that participants would be compensated. "The track had undergone work during December and while the majority of the track is in good condition, some specific areas did not recover to an appropriate level," he said in a statement. "Tasracing, in conjunction with our track partner Strathayr, will be undertaking an investigation into how the damage occurred and why the track did not recover to the level it should."
Independent Windermere MLC Ivan Dean will push for a parliamentary committee he chairs to establish an inquiry into Tasracing.
An independent Tasmanian MLC will push for a parliamentary inquiry into the state-owned company responsible for the administration of the racing industry, after the second important race meeting in six weeks had to be called off in Hobart on Sunday.
Ivan Dean, the member for Windermere in the upper house, said he would be "very surprised" if he couldn't get the requisite support from the committee he chairs to establish an inquiry into Tasracing.
His comments follow the abandonment of the $100,000 Tasmanian Guineas thoroughbred race meeting on Sunday due to damage to the track at the Elwick Racecourse in Glenorchy. It's now been rescheduled for Wednesday.
"[MLCs] asked a number of questions [of Tasracing] during the [government business enterprise hearings] ... on the state of the tracks and so on," Mr Dean said. "And we were being assured that the [Elwick] track was in good condition, it was standing up well, it was reacting to the works that they'd done on it and so on and there were no real issues and problems with it."
"To see this happen, so shortly thereafter, makes you wonder what the hell's going on."
Mr Dean said he intended to convene a meeting of the Legislative Council's six-member Sessional Committee Government Administration B to discuss the option of standing up an inquiry into Tasracing.
"The committee members are well and truly aware of a lot of the issues that are occurring in Tasracing at the present time, I can assure you of that," he said.
Ivan Dean MLC. Picture: Paul Scambler
According to the independent MLC, the terms of reference for the prospective inquiry would likely cover off on Tasracing's financial position and the maintenance of tracks.
The postponement of the Elwick race meeting comes little more than a month after the 3YO Cup meeting at Mowbray had to be called off because holes were found in the track.
Tasracing chief executive Paul Eriksson said on Sunday that the Elwick postponement was disappointing and that participants would be compensated.
"The track had undergone work during December and while the majority of the track is in good condition, some specific areas did not recover to an appropriate level," he said in a statement. "Tasracing, in conjunction with our track partner Strathayr, will be undertaking an investigation into how the damage occurred and why the track did not recover to the level it should."
