Committee Details

Committee's Report

The committee's report on the Bill was tabled on 15 March 2016.  The Bill was passed with amendments on 21 April 2016. 

View:  Report No. 15, 55th Parliament, Racing Integrity Bill 2015 
View:  Government's response to the report

About the Bill

On 3 December 2015 Hon Bill Byrne MP, Minister for Agriculture and Fisheries and Minister for Sport and Racing, introduced the Racing Integrity Bill 2015 to the Queensland Parliament.

The Bill was referred to the committee by the Legislative Assembly for examination and report by 1 March 2016 in accordance with Standing Orders 131. On 25 February 2016, the Legislative Assembly agreed to extend the committee’s reporting date to 15 March 2016.

The main focus of the Bill is to implement recommendations 1 to 3 from the report of the Queensland Greyhound Racing Industry Commission of Inquiry.

The objectives of the Bill are to:

• establish the new Queensland Racing Integrity Commission responsible for the management of animal welfare and integrity matters within the racing industry
• amend the Racing Act 2002 to: reform the structure of the Queensland All Codes Racing Industry Board, including renaming the board as the Racing Queensland Board; and to dissolve the three individual racing code boards, the Racing Animal Welfare Integrity Board and the Racing Disciplinary Board, and
• amend the Animal Care and Protection Act 2001 to provide improved information sharing capacity and broaden authorised officer powers to investigate and respond to animal welfare matters and breaches of the Act related to the racing industry.

The Bill seeks to establish a new Racing Integrity Act to safeguard the welfare of animals, ensure the integrity of persons involved in the racing industry and manage matters relating to betting and sporting contingencies. The Bill also seeks to amend the:

• Animal Care and Protection Act 2001
• Bail Act 1980
• Criminal Organisation Act 2009
• Interactive Gambling (Player Protection) Act 1998
• Liquor Act 1992
• Police Powers and Responsibilities Act 2000
• Public Service Act 2008
• Racing Act 2002
• Trading (Allowable Hours) Act 1990 and
• Wagering Act 1998.

View: Racing Integrity Bill 2015 
View: Explanatory Notes 
View: Explanatory Speech
View: Queensland Greyhound Racing Industry Commission of Inquiry

SUBMISSIONS

Submissions closed on 27 January 2016

Timeline

Public hearing             17 February 2016 - transcript 
Public briefing            11 December 2015 - transcript
Report tabled              15 March 2016