ADJOURNMENT

Senator CICCONE (Victoria) (19:37): Tonight, I want to discuss one of the premier events in the Victorian racing calendar, which is the Victorian Racing Awards annual event, which was held at the Forum Melbourne theatre on Saturday night and which I had the great pleasure of attending—and boy was it a cracking evening, showcasing the very best of my state's outstanding racing industry, something that always gets demonised by many people on the crossbenches in this place.

Congratulations to every single trainer, jockey and all those wonderful people—men and women—who have achieved so much for the industry and who deserve the recognition on the evening. They reflect the skills, the dedication and the passion running through the horseracing industry. As you can see, I'm very passionate about this industry, and I am because there are so many wonderful people behind each horse that races every single weekend not just in Victoria but in each state around this beautiful nation.

I want to particularly congratulate the Caulfield Cup and Melbourne Cup winner Half Yours, who was crowned the 2025-26 Victorian Racehorse of the Year, a horse that knows how to hit its straps when it matters most and a great achievement by the father and son trainers Tony and Calvin McEvoy. Congratulations should also go to jockey Craig Williams, who claimed his six Scobie Breasley Medal.

Six Scobies is a testament to his consistency and longevity at the highest level. Craig accepted the award whilst in Ukraine, where he and his Ukrainian-born wife have made multiple humanitarian trips—something that I want to acknowledge and put on the record today—raising millions of dollars to deliver vital aid to those affected by the war since it began in 2022.

It was a powerful reminder not just of his impact but of the impact that he and his wife are having, which extends well beyond the racetrack, something that those on the crossbench always want to demonise. With the Spring Racing Carnival set to get underway later this month, I wanted to take this opportunity to reflect on the enormous contribution and benefit that the industry makes to Victoria's economy and the many regional communities across thoroughbred, harness and greyhound.

Last month an independent report was released, detailing the significant size and scope of the racing industry. The figures are remarkable, and they underline just how important racing is to the state of Victoria, particularly to regional communities. In 2024-25, the industry generated $5.5 billion in annual economic impact and contributed $3.8 billion in direct expenditure to the Victorian economy—nothing to sneeze at.

Importantly, more than 46 per cent of this economic activity occurs in and benefits regional areas of Victoria. The industry supports over 33,000 full-time equivalent jobs and involves more than 73,000 racehorse and greyhound owners. That is only part of this story.

With thousands of breeders, trainers, workers and volunteers, nearly 100,000 Victorians participate in the racing industry in some capacity, supporting this wonderful industry. Close to 80 per cent of these roles are in regional areas. This is a huge footprint that stretches well beyond the racecourse.

More than 78,000 racing club members belong to one of the 109 clubs across Victoria. Together, these clubs host over 2,100 race meetings a year, with 59 per cent of them regional. These meetings draw crowds who don't just watch the race but fill local accommodation, restaurants, shops and transport, backing small businesses right across the state.

Indeed, it is an industry with real staying power—no photo finish is needed to see that. Then there's the Spring Racing Carnival, one of the major events that keeps Melbourne and Victoria firmly in place as Australia's major events capital. The report makes one thing very clear: the racing industry is far more than what happens on the track.

It is about jobs, investment, tourism and small business, regional communities, volunteers and families. It is about showcasing Victoria to the world. As the industry lines up in the barriers for another Spring Racing Carnival, I'm proud to celebrate the enormous contribution that racing makes to Victoria and to Australia's international reputation.

Bring on the 2026 Spring Racing Carnival, and here's hoping that it's a photo finish for all the right reasons. Giddy up!