Aussie politician calls for abolition of jumps racing in Victoria
An independent analysis commissioned by Animal Justice Party MP Georgie Purcell has found jumps racing cost Victorian taxpayers an estimated $1.8 million more than it generated in gambling revenue.
The figures, detailed in Victorian Parliamentary Budget Office costings finalised in October, calculated the industry’s “net subsidy” for 2024–25, and Purcell was quick to jump on harness racing not paying its way.
The PBO estimated jumps racing contributed approximately $900,000 through gambling taxes and wagering licence fees, while receiving $2.8 million in state funding and tax distributions.
After rounding, the net subsidy was placed at $1.8 million, up sharply from $300,000 in 2023–24. The increase was largely attributed to a new $90 million funding deed across Victoria’s racing industry.
The findings have intensified calls from Purcell in Melbourne newspaper The Age to abolish jumps racing, which remains unique to Victoria. The sport has faced sustained scrutiny following multiple horse fatalities in recent seasons.
Racing Victoria said it had not reviewed the analysis but maintained jumps racing holds cultural and economic significance, particularly for regional events such as Warrnambool’s May Carnival, due to take place from May 5-7 in 2026.
Purcell’s city-centric ideology would hurt Warrnambool
Georgie Purcell should know better than to mess with country racing, given she is grew up in Inverleigh, a small town outside Geelong.
Purcell’s take would be a dagger for Warrnambool racing and the greater community, who heavily support the Warrnambool Racing Carnival, which is headlined by the Grand Annual Steeplechase each May.
Rough estimates put the direct expenditure in Warrnambool during the three day carnival at roughly $14million, which is a lot of money for a town of under 35,000. This was one of the main factors in jumps racing earn a stay of execution in 2024.
So unless Purcell has ideas to replace jumps racing in Warrnambool with another industry, that stimulates the economy we think this is a disastrous policy.
