Hansard debates

Anthony CARBINES (Ivanhoe – Leader of the House, Minister for Police, Minister for Community Safety, Minister for Victims, Minister for Racing) (10:49): Under the Statewide Treaty Act 2025, I table a statement of treaty compatibility:

1. In my opinion, the Bill is compatible with the objects set out in section 66(3)(d) of the Statewide Treaty Act 2025. I base my opinion on the reasons outlined in this statement.

Overview of the Bill

2. The Bill amends the Racing Act 1958 (the Racing Act) to:

• amalgamate the functions and powers of the Racing Integrity Commissioner and the Victorian Racing Integrity Board into a new integrity assurance body;

• facilitate the establishment of successor entities of Greyhound Racing Victoria (GRV) and Harness Racing Victoria (HRV) as public companies limited by guarantee;

• provide legal authority for the successor entities to act as the controlling bodies for greyhound and harness racing in Victoria, and to grant those bodies specific powers to enable them to fulfil their purposes;

• include savings, transitional and consequential amendments relating to the amalgamation of the Racing Integrity Commissioner and Victorian Racing Integrity Board, and the transition of GRV and HRV to public companies limited by guarantee; and make various other amendments to improve and modernise the operation of the Act.

3. The Bill implements reforms to the Australian Grands Prix Act 1994 (AGP Act) to:

• enable the Minister to approve a motor sport event, for the purposes of section 20(e) of the AGP Act, by notice published in the Government Gazette, and

• provide the Australian Grand Prix Corporation (AGPC) with the power to do the following in relation to approved motor sport events:

• establish supporting facilities, services and activities in connection with holding an approved motor sport event; and

• charge and collect fees for admission, whether the approved motor sport event is held at the Phillip Island Grand Prix circuit or elsewhere; and

• grant, for free or for other consideration advertising rights, sponsorship rights, broadcasting rights or television rights or any other rights, licences or concessions in connection with an approved motor sport event.

4. The amendments made by the Bill will support the AGPC to host approved motor sport events, by empowering the AGPC with similar powers it has under AGP Act in relation to other events the AGPC hosts, such as the Formula One Grand Prix, the Australian Motorcycle Grand Prix, and approved events ‍– being events which are not Formula One events or motor sport events.

Consultation with the First Peoples’ Assembly of Gellung Warl

5. Due to the recent establishment of the First Peoples’ Assembly of Gellung Warl, it was not possible to give the First Peoples’ Assembly the opportunity to advise on the Bill or for them to otherwise make representations about the effect of the Bill on First Peoples.

Compatibility of the Bill with each of the objects in section 66(3)(d) of the Statewide Treaty Act 2025

6. I have considered whether the Bill is compatible with the objects at section 66(3)(d) of the Statewide Treaty Act 2025:

6.1 advancing the inherent rights and self-determination of First Peoples; and

6.2 addressing the unacceptable disadvantage inflicted on First Peoples by the historic wrongs and ongoing injustices of colonisation; and

6.3 ensuring the equal enjoyment of human rights and fundamental freedoms by First Peoples.

7 The Bill does not in its terms deal with First Peoples, nor is it expected that any aspects of the Bill will, in practice, have a differential impact on First Peoples. It therefore does not affect the objects in the Statewide Treaty Act 2025.

Conclusion

8 In my opinion the Bill does not affect the objects specified in section 66(3)(d)(i) to (iii) of the Statewide Treaty Act 2025 and is therefore compatible with each of those objects.

Hon Anthony Carbines MP

Minister for Racing