Queensland’s racing minister will meet with thoroughbred racing officials in a bid to cool rising tensions over the state’s new gambling tax.
The thoroughbred racing industry is threatening strikes on Cox Plate day and Melbourne Cup day unless it gets an immediate prize money cash injection from Labor’s point of consumption tax, in line with southern states.
Cameron Partington, Australian Trainers Association state executive, says officials will not settle for anything less when they meet with Racing Minister Stirling Hinchliffe on Tuesday.
“You’ve got to put more money in at the start and spread it over more people so that more trainers can get some income out of running their horses,” he said.
But the state government says the kick back is big enough and comes on top of millions in government funding each year.
A new greyhound track and another for harness racing, collectively worth $20 million, will be funded by the tax along with other financial help.
The new tax means betting houses with headquarters overseas or interstate must now pay 15 per cent tax on all bets placed in the state.
