The Minns Labor Government has failed its biggest test to date of integrity, transparency and accountability.
The Opposition successfully amended the Thoroughbred Racing Amendment Bill in the Legislative Council to improve governance and accountability for Racing NSW, before the Minns Labor Government descended into an absolute farce – first voting for the amended Bill, then attempting to vote against it, before once again supporting it.
The Government then pulled the Bill in the Legislative Assembly to avoid further embarrassment.
Opposition Leader Mark Speakman said the Liberals and ³Ô¹ÏÍøÕ¾s stood up for important values that underpin administration of taxpayer funding, while Labor abandoned any pretence of integrity or proper governance.
“Racing NSW has been successfully administering the state’s racing industry, but it’s important that any organisations managing taxpayer funds should be open to proper scrutiny.”
“The Government has mismanaged this process from the start,” Mr Speakman said. “Despite knowing for months that it needed to deal with the succession of the Racing NSW Chairman, it chose to introduce legislation at the last minute to try and force it through at five minutes to midnight.”
“Chris Minns promised transparency, better standards and accountability, but failed at the first hurdle. Instead of proceeding with the Bill that they told us was absolutely necessary, they decide to abandon it rather than accept stronger oversight and governance,” Mr Speakman said.
“Chris Minns now also needs to explain why Labor has decided that Racing NSW should not be subject to ICAC.”
“We have to ask is this the same old Labor – with the Chris Minns Labor Government hiding from transparency, providing jobs for mates, breaking election promises and avoiding proper scrutiny.”
