THE LNP has grilled the Government at the Estimates Hearings on progress with major projects including the introduction of night racing at the Gold Coast and new harness and greyhound racing infrastructure in the metropolitan area.
Rather than commit to finalization dates as promised by Racing Queensland in a recent annual report, the Minister Stirling Hinchliffe has delivered a political back-hander to his Shadow colleague John Paul Langbroek.
In answer to a series of questions, HINCHLIFFE told LANGBROEK, in part:
‘I want to make sure that we get this right, particularly because of the finite funds that we are talking about—the finite funds that result from the absolute dud deal that was done by the LNP in Government with that stellar Minister Steve Dickson that resulted in an absolute dud deal that we have to live with as an albatross around our neck until 2024.
‘Certainly the ambition is around delivering the quality infrastructure that is needed across those three codes in the State, but we have to do it carefully and right and do it in consultation with all of the stakeholders and get the programs right. We have to look at what happened with infrastructure when the LNP were in charge. Eagle Farm was bungled. That is the reality. We have to make sure that we get these things right and make them work right, particularly, as I have highlighted before, with the finite funds that are available under the program as a result of the dud deal that was done.’
Hinchliffe called on RQ CEO Brendan Parnell to provide details of the progress being made on the projects Langbroek at questioned but he skirted around whether Gold Coast night racing or a major new harness and greyhound facility would be up and running next year.
Questions were also raised about the abandonment of plans to move RQ Headquarters from Deagon nearer to the city and what this project had cost the industry.
Here is part of the transcript of the Estimates Hearings from the Queensland Government Hansard: 
LANGBROEK: Why is Racing Queensland embroiled in a court case when there were public reassurances that neither the industry nor Tabcorp would be worse off after the Point of Consumption Tax was introduced?
HINCHLIFFE: Any actions that Racing Queensland takes in relation to matters are matters for Racing Queensland. I call on the CEO of Racing Queensland to respond to that.
PARNELL: As the matter is subject to legal proceedings currently underway through the court system, we are not in a position to comment or explain further, other than to say that our responsibility is to the State and to our industry to represent its interests in the best possible way.
LANGBROEK: While you are here, I ask the Minister about Racing Queensland abandoning plans to move offices from Deagon. Were any costs incurred by the abandoned move, including breaking any intention-to-lease agreement on Green Square, where I think the plan was to move?
HINCHLIFFE: Again, those are matters are for Racing Queensland to answer. I will defer to Mr Parnell to respond.
PARNELL: The relocation expenses incurred in total were just over $51,000.
LANGBROEK: With regard to matters such as cancelling Racing Queensland’s plan to move and also the recent infrastructure upgrade at Ipswich, were such decisions via intervention from the Ministerial office or from the Board level at Racing Queensland? Where did they come from?
HINCHLIFFE: Ultimately, the Member has raised two separate issues. That is not quite within the standing orders, but I understand that the Member asks more generally about decision-making.
LANGBROEK: I am happy to separate them.
HINCHLIFFE: That is okay. I will respond. In relation to the Ipswich Turf Club and its infrastructure projects, they were matters about which Racing Queensland ultimately made decisions—the nature of the project. In negotiations with the Ipswich Turf Club they came to a determination about that. In relation to the matter of the contemplation of a move, no final decision having been made, I certainly gave advice and counselled Racing Queensland and the Board that that was a matter that would not meet with my approval unless it was undertaken having seen the result of two things—first, the master planning process for Deagon, and the timing of that is in line with the Brisbane City Council's neighbourhood planning process for Sandgate and districts. Second, I gave instruction that I believed they should be considering ensuring that, should there be any move, the result of any move was something that would put money back into the industry rather than having rent going to an outside body.
LANGBROEK: Thank you for that clarification. I return to another issue….with regard to the Racing Infrastructure Fund. Will the Minister explain the $30.2 million 2018-19 underspend when so many priority projects are identified in the annual report?
HINCHLIFFE: There certainly is a significant range of projects in planning and in progression under the Racing Infrastructure Fund. It supports a broad array of priority racing infrastructure projects. The fund is drawn mainly from Tabcorp's payments for its exclusive wagering deal and its wagering licence. The fund pays for projects such as the redevelopment of Ipswich Turf Club's Bundamba racecourse, as the Member made mention of; the $6 million country and regional capital works program; the $3.7 million project that we saw completed for the Eagle Farm track rectification; and the $3.5 million for critical capital works at the Brisbane Racing Club's Doomben and Eagle Farm racecourses that have drawn down upon it. The situation is that there is a lot of significant planning, consultation and engagement that needs to be delivered to address the needs of infrastructure in racing across Queensland. These funds will be drawn down further as full business cases are presented to Government by Racing Queensland for consideration, so we are keen to see that pipeline continuing and ramping up. I have to say that I have increased confidence in that pipeline. Racing Queensland has published an infrastructure plan, including a list of the proposed infrastructure developments. As these are properly developed and assessed, the process will be activated to release the funds for these projects. However, it is vital that with a finite infrastructure fund projects are developed prudently and we ensure that they are delivered where they are most needed and they cater for all three codes most effectively in a sustainable manner. That is the work that has been going on and it probably has meant that we have not seen those dollars go out the door as quickly as I might like to have seen, but I have confidence that that pipeline is significantly improving. I want to make sure that we get this right, particularly because of the finite funds that we are talking about—the finite funds that result from the absolute dud deal that was done by the LNP in Government with that stellar Minister Steve Dickson that resulted in an absolute dud deal that we have to live with as an albatross around our neck until 2024.
LANGBROEK: Will night racing be delivered at the Gold Coast by 2020 as promised at page 42 in the 2017-18 annual report of Racing Queensland?
HINCHLIFFE: In terms of what is coming down through the pipeline, I might refer that question to the CEO of Racing Queensland and allow him to talk about the pipeline and the range of very exciting projects that are in the infrastructure plan but, as I said, we have to make sure that these are prudently and effectively delivered and done.
PARNELL: Night racing is a core part, as the Member knows, for Racing Queensland strategies to leverage export opportunities and to create new visitation to Queensland, of which the Gold Coast is central to that night racing plan. The Gold Coast delivery of night racing will be subject to business case approval by the Department and Government and, because of the magnitude of the project, Governor in Council as well. That business case is in development at the moment. Already feasibility funding has been drawn down to complete assessment of different turf types. There are several varieties of couch and kikuyu which are currently to be tested around the Bundall racetrack. Feasibility assessment is underway for lighting and final specifications for width of course proper, for the synthetic racing surface and trialling surface and for the full specifications with the Gold Coast Turf Club. Once the business case has been entered and approved through Government processes, then we will be in a position to confirm when lights will be available for racing under lights at the Gold Coast.
LANGBROEK: My next question follows on from the previous one. Will at least one new or replacement harness racing venue be delivered by 2020 as promised in the annual report of Racing Queensland?
HINCHLIFFE: As I have said in relation to the rollout of the infrastructure fund and the infrastructure program of Racing Queensland, we have to get this right and deliver things effectively and efficiently, as we should be committed to, to the whole of industry across the three codes. Certainly the ambition is around delivering the quality infrastructure that is needed across those three codes in the State, but we have to do it carefully and right and do it in consultation with all of the stakeholders and get the programs right. We have to look at what happened with infrastructure when the LNP were in charge. Eagle Farm was bungled. That is the reality. We have to make sure that we get these things right and make them work right, particularly, as I have highlighted before, with the finite funds that are available under the program as a result of the dud deal that was done. I am happy again for the CEO of Racing Queensland to address the specific issue of the harness venue in response to the committee to provide more information to the committee, but my main emphasis is making sure we get these things right and do not bungle them by rushing them.
PARNELL: Referencing the question on new harness infrastructure, which applies equally to greyhound infrastructure, significant work has been done through the Deloittes' work on participant location in the south-east and it has been outlined many times that there are significant pockets of participant locations to the south and west of Brisbane. In my 14 months in this role it has been a clear focus to narrow down the potential sites and have a very thorough engagement with both the harness and the greyhound participants and particularly the clubs so that stakeholder engagement ensures full buy-in from the racing industry. With that in mind, a number of sites have various stages of commercial negotiation. Due to confidentiality and obviously not wanting to breach any of those potential outcomes for the racing industry, they will not be speculated on by Racing Queensland until those sites are secured and business cases are lodged with government and approved. However, a clear focus has been stakeholder engagement with clubs and participants and progress on doing these projects well, and I think the Eagle Farm delivery on 22 December is a testament of working more collaboratively with our industry partners.
LANGBROEK: The annual report for 2017-18, which came out about this time a year ago, said that these things would be delivered by 2020, so that is why my question is. Will two new or replacement greyhound racing venues be delivered by 2020 as promised in the 2017-18 annual report of Racing Queensland?
HINCHLIFFE: I will refer the Member for Surfers Paradise to the answer I gave in relation to his last question and I will refer him to the answer that the CEO of Racing Queensland gave to his last question. Investment in these new facilities will deliver a significant change for industry. It is important that that is done with the full confidence of the codes involved. Given that this question particularly relates to greyhound racing, it is all about delivering high-quality venues that enhance animal welfare, provide better training facilities, support the existing participants' needs and attract new participants by providing entry level opportunities. That is where all of the focus and work is going. There is significant progress. I have a great level of confidence in the progress of the pipeline in relation to these projects and I look forward to seeing those outcomes come to fruition. As the CEO has just said in relation to the answer to the last question, we have to be a little bit careful about how we talk about some of those things right at this particular point in time.
