The ATA has called on Racing Victoria Limited to provide all stakeholders with an immediate, open and comprehensive briefing on the full implications of the Federal Court decision on race fields and the product fee, on the Victorian racing industry.
ATA President Colin Alderson called on RVL to demonstrate to stakeholders that the product fee agreements that they have entered with wagering operators do not leave the Victorian racing industry financially worse off and disadvantaged.
He said the ATA had continually raised concerns and sought assurances from RVL over the financial implications of any arrangements that had been negotiated with wagering operators.
As the governing body for the Victorian racing industry RVL has an obligation to provide this information urgently and without delay to assure Trainers and all other stakeholder groups that Victorian prize money levels do not fall behind proposed NSW metropolitan, provincial and country minimums; and that important infrastructure projects are not compromised.
Alderson said that the Federal Court decision had once and for all exposed the need for a national solution to the product fee and race fields issue, which the ATA had continually called for over many years.
Alderson added that, pending the possibility of an Appeal, the Federal Court decision, as a result of the Racing NSW initiative, is a great financial outcome for Australian racing.
