An Act to constitute a Racing Appeals Tribunal to hear appeals from certain decisions of the Appeal Panel under the Thoroughbred Racing Act 1996 and appeals from certain decisions under the Greyhound Racing Act 2017 and the Harness Racing Act 2009; and for other purposes.
long title: Am 1996 No 37, Sch 2.5 [1]; 1997 No 24, Sch 2.4 [1]; 2004 No 23, Sch 2.1 [1]; 2009 No 21, Sch 1 [1]; 2017 No 13, Sch 7.10 [1].
Part 1 Preliminary
1 Name of Act
This Act may be cited as the Racing Appeals Tribunal Act 1983.
2 Commencement
(1) Sections 1 and 2 shall commence on the date of assent to this Act.(2) Except as provided by subsection (1), this Act shall commence on such day as may be appointed by the Governor in respect thereof and as may be notified by proclamation published in the Gazette.
3 (Repealed)
s 3: Rep 1999 No 31, Sch 5.88.
4 Definitions
(1) In this Act, except in so far as the context or subject-matter otherwise indicates or requires—Appeal Panel means the Appeal Panel under the Thoroughbred Racing Act 1996.court includes the Industrial Relations Commission of New South Wales.HRNSW means Harness Racing New South Wales constituted under the Harness Racing Act 2009.qualified person means a judge of any court in New South Wales, a retired judge of any court (whether or not in New South Wales) or a person qualified to be appointed as a Judge of the District Court.racing association has the meaning given by the Thoroughbred Racing Act 1996.Racing NSW means Racing New South Wales.regulation means a regulation made under this Act.Tribunal means the Racing Appeals Tribunal constituted by this Act.(2) In this Act, a reference to—(a) a function includes a reference to a power, authority and duty, and(b) the exercise of a function includes, where that function is a duty, a reference to the performance of that duty.s 4: Am 1985 No 35, Sch 1 (1); 1989 No 59, Sch 1 (1); 1996 No 37, Sch 2.5 [2] [3]; 1996 No 121, Sch 4.43; 1997 No 24, Sch 2.4 [2]–[4]; 2004 No 23, Sch 2.1 [1]–[3]; 2009 No 21, Sch 1 [2] [3]; 2017 No 13, Sch 7.10 [2].
Part 2 Constitution of Racing Appeals Tribunal
5 Racing Appeals Tribunal
There is hereby constituted a tribunal under the name of the “Racing Appeals Tribunal”.
6 Appointment of Tribunal
The Minister may, upon the recommendation of the Attorney General, appoint a qualified person as the Tribunal.
7 Appointment of acting Tribunal
(1) The Minister may from time to time, on the recommendation of the Attorney General, appoint qualified persons to act as the Tribunal—(a) during the illness or absence of the person appointed as the Tribunal, or(b) during a vacancy in the office of the Tribunal, or(c) on the occasions or in respect of the appeals as the person appointed as the Tribunal directs.(1A) The Minister, when appointing a qualified person to act as the Tribunal, is to determine the person’s place in the order of seniority of persons appointed under this section.(2) A qualified person while acting as the Tribunal shall be deemed to be the Tribunal.(3) More than one sitting of the Tribunal may be held at the same time, but the person appointed as the Tribunal and a person appointed to act as the Tribunal shall not sit on the same appeal.s 7: Subst 1986 No 16, Sch 12. Am 2004 No 23, Sch 2.1 [4]; 2019 No 12, Sch 4[1].
8 (Repealed)
s 8: Am 1985 No 35, Sch 1 (2); 1996 No 90, Sch 2.11; 2002 No 39, Sch 5.8. Rep 2009 No 21, Sch 1 [4].
8A Tribunal may appoint expert assessor
(1) The Tribunal may appoint a person with relevant knowledge, expertise and experience as an assessor to help the Tribunal in relation to a particular proceeding.(2) An appointment of an assessor is to be made in writing.(3) The Government Sector Employment Act 2013 does not apply to or in respect of an assessor.(4) An assessor is entitled to be paid the remuneration (including allowances) determined by the Tribunal (in consultation with the relevant racing controlling body) and specified in the assessor’s instrument of appointment.(5) In this section—racing controlling body has the same meaning as in the Betting and Racing Act 1998.s 8A: Ins 1985 No 35, Sch 1 (3). Subst 2009 No 21, Sch 1 [5]; 2019 No 12, Sch 4[2].
8B, 9 (Repealed)
s 8B: Ins 1985 No 35, Sch 1 (3). Rep 2009 No 21, Sch 1 [6].
s 9: Subst 1985 No 35, Sch 1 (4). Rep 1989 No 59, Sch 1 (2).
10 Term of office
Subject to this Act, a person appointed as—(a) the Tribunal, orshall hold office for such period, not exceeding 3 years, as may be specified in the instrument of appointment, but is eligible (if otherwise qualified) for re-appointment.(b) (Repealed)s 10: Subst 1985 No 35, Sch 1 (4). Am 2009 No 21, Sch 1 [7].
11 Effect of appointment of a judge as the Tribunal
(1) The appointment of a person who is a judge of any court as, or to act as, the Tribunal shall not, nor shall the person’s service as the Tribunal, affect the person’s tenure of the office of judge of that court or the person’s rank, title, status, precedence, salary or other rights or privileges as a holder of that office.(2) A judge of any court may, notwithstanding that he or she holds office as, or acts as, the Tribunal, exercise the functions of a judge of that court.(3) The service, as the Tribunal, of a judge of any court shall, for all purposes, be taken to be service as a judge of that court.s 11: Am 1985 No 35, Sch 1 (5).
12 Remuneration
A person (not being a judge of any court) holding office as, or acting as, the Tribunal is entitled to be paid such remuneration (including travelling and subsistence allowances) as the Minister may from time to time determine.s 12: Subst 1985 No 35, Sch 1 (6); 2009 No 21, Sch 1 [8].
13 Vacation of office
(1) A person (being a judge of any court) holding office as the Tribunal shall be deemed to have vacated that office if the person—(a) ceases to be a judge of that court, or(b) resigns that office by instrument in writing addressed to the Minister.(2) A person (not being a judge of any court) holding office as the Tribunal shall be deemed to have vacated that office if the person—(a) dies,(b) becomes bankrupt, applies to take the benefit of any law for the relief of bankrupt or insolvent debtors, compounds with his or her creditors or makes an assignment of his or her remuneration for their benefit,(c) becomes a temporary patient, a continued treatment patient, a protected person or an incapable person within the meaning of the Mental Health Act 1958 or a person under detention under Part 7 of that Act,(d) is convicted in New South Wales of an offence which is punishable by imprisonment for 12 months or upwards, or is convicted elsewhere than in New South Wales of an offence which, if committed in New South Wales, would be an offence so punishable,(e) resigns that office by instrument in writing addressed to the Minister, or(f) (Repealed)(g) is removed from office by the Minister under subsection (3).(3) The Minister may remove from office—(a) a person (not being a judge of any court) holding office as, or appointed to act as, the Tribunal, or(b) (Repealed)s 13: Am 1985 No 35, Sch 1 (7); 1989 No 59, Sch 1 (3); 2009 No 21, Sch 1 [9] [10].
14 Effect of certain other Acts
(1) The Government Sector Employment Act 2013 does not apply to or in respect of the appointment of a person as, or to act as, the Tribunal and a person holding office as, or acting as, the Tribunal is not, as the Tribunal, subject to that Act.(2) The office of the Tribunal shall for the purposes of any Act be deemed not to be an office or place of profit under the Crown.s 14: Am 1985 No 35, Sch 1 (8); 2009 No 21, Sch 1 [11]; 2015 No 15, Sch 3.51 [1].
Part 3 Appeals to Tribunal
Division 1 Appeals relating to thoroughbred racing
pt 3, div 1, hdg: Ins 2009 No 21, Sch 1 [12].
15 Appeals to Tribunal
(1) A person who is aggrieved by any of the following decisions may, in accordance with the regulations, appeal against the decision to the Tribunal—(a) a decision of the Appeal Panel on an appeal under the Thoroughbred Racing Act 1996,(b) a decision of a racing association on an appeal heard by virtue of a delegation of Racing NSW under the Thoroughbred Racing Act 1996,(c) a decision in respect of which an appeal is made to the Appeal Panel or a racing association under the Thoroughbred Racing Act 1996 but that the Appeal Panel or racing association neglects or refuses to hear and determine,(d) a decision of Racing NSW.(2) Racing NSW may, in accordance with the regulations, appeal to the Tribunal against the following decisions—(a) a decision of the Appeal Panel on an appeal under the Thoroughbred Racing Act 1996,(b) a decision of a racing association on an appeal heard by virtue of a delegation by Racing NSW under the Thoroughbred Racing Act 1996,(c) a decision in respect of which an appeal is made to the Appeal Panel or a racing association under the Thoroughbred Racing Act 1996 but that the Appeal Panel or racing association neglects or refuses to hear and determine.s 15: Am 1996 No 37, Sch 2.5 [4] [5]; 1997 No 24, Sch 2.4 [5]–[7]; 1998 No 66, Sch 2 [1]. Subst 2004 No 23, Sch 2.1 [5].
Division 2 Appeals relating to greyhound racing or harness racing
pt 3, div 2: Ins 2009 No 21, Sch 1 [13].
15A Appeals to Tribunal relating to greyhound racing
(1) Any person who is aggrieved by any of the following decisions may, in accordance with the regulations, appeal against the decision to the Tribunal—(a) a decision of a greyhound racing club within the meaning of the Greyhound Racing Act 2017,(b) a decision of a steward appointed by the Greyhound Welfare and Integrity Commission.(2) Any of the following persons or bodies that are aggrieved by any decision of the Greyhound Welfare and Integrity Commission or Greyhound Racing New South Wales may, in accordance with the regulations, appeal against the decision to the Tribunal—(a) any person,(b) a greyhound racing club within the meaning of the Greyhound Racing Act 2017.s 15A: Ins 2009 No 21, Sch 1 [13]. Subst 2017 No 13, Sch 7.10 [3].
15B Appeals to Tribunal relating to harness racing
(1) Any person who is aggrieved by any of the following decisions may, in accordance with the regulations, appeal against the decision to the Tribunal—(a) a decision of a harness racing club (within the meaning of the Harness Racing Act 2009),(b) a decision of a steward of HRNSW.(2) Any of the following persons or bodies that are aggrieved by a decision of HRNSW may, in accordance with the regulations, appeal against the decision to the Tribunal—(a) any person,(b) a harness racing club (within the meaning of the Harness Racing Act 2009).s 15B: Ins 2009 No 21, Sch 1 [13].
Division 3 Procedure and regulations relating to appeals
pt 3, div 3, hdg: Ins 2009 No 21, Sch 1 [13].
16 Procedure on appeal
(1) An appeal to the Tribunal is to be by way of a new hearing and fresh evidence, or evidence in addition to or in substitution for the evidence on which the decision appealed against was made, may be given on the appeal.(2) Proceedings on an appeal are to be held as in open court before the Tribunal.s 16: Subst 2004 No 23, Sch 2.1 [6].
16A Persons required to attend hearings or produce documents
(1) The Tribunal may, by written notice served on any person, require the person to attend at a time, date and place specified in the notice for the purpose of—(a) giving evidence relating to an appeal being heard or to be heard by the Tribunal, or(b) producing any document, relating to such an appeal, specified in the notice that is in the person’s possession or under the person’s control.(2) A person who is served with a notice under this section must not, without reasonable excuse, fail or refuse to comply with the requirements of the notice.Maximum penalty—100 penalty units or imprisonment for 6 months, or both.(3) A person who is served with a notice under this section is to be given at the time of service an amount sufficient to cover the travelling and any other expenses likely to be incurred by the person in attending at the time, date and place specified in the notice.s 16A: Ins 2004 No 23, Sch 2.1 [6]. Am 2019 No 12, Sch 4[3].
17 Determination of appeals relating to thoroughbred racing
(1) The Tribunal may do any of the following in respect of an appeal under section 15—(a) dismiss the appeal,(b) confirm the decision appealed against or vary the decision by substituting any decision that could have been made by the Appeal Panel, the racing association or Racing NSW (as the case requires),(c) refer any matter relating to the decision appealed against to the Appeal Panel, the racing association or Racing NSW for rehearing (in accordance with directions given by the Tribunal),(d) make such other order in relation to the disposal of the appeal as the Tribunal thinks fit.(2) The decision of the Tribunal is final and is taken (except for the purposes of an appeal against the decision under this Act or the Thoroughbred Racing Act 1996) to be the decision of the Appeal Panel, the racing association or Racing NSW (as the case requires).s 17: Subst 1996 No 37, Sch 2.5 [6]; 2004 No 23, Sch 2.1 [7]. Am 2009 No 21, Sch 1 [14].
17A Determination of appeals relating to greyhound racing or harness racing
(1) The Tribunal may do any of the following in respect of an appeal under section 15A or 15B—(a) dismiss the appeal,(b) confirm the decision appealed against or vary the decision by substituting any decision that could have been made by the steward, club, the Greyhound Welfare and Integrity Commission, Greyhound Racing New South Wales or HRNSW (as the case requires),(c) make such other order in relation to the disposal of the appeal as the Tribunal thinks fit.(2) The decision of the Tribunal is final and is taken to be a decision of the person or body whose decision is the subject of the appeal.s 17A: Ins 2009 No 21, Sch 1 [15]. Am 2017 No 13, Sch 7.10 [4].
18 Regulations respecting appeals
(1) The regulations may make provision for or with respect to appeals to the Tribunal under this Act and, in particular, for or with respect to—(a) the procedures to be followed at or in connection with any appeals under this Act,(b) the suspension of a decision appealed against under this Act pending the determination of the appeal,(c) the payment of fees and costs in respect of appeals under this Act, and(d) any matters incidental to or connected with appeals under this Act.(2) Without affecting the generality of subsection (1), the regulations may—(a) prescribe classes of matters in respect of which appeals may not be made under this Act, or(b) provide that no appeals may be made under this Act except in respect of prescribed classes of matters.
Part 4 Miscellaneous
19 Staff to assist Tribunal
(1) For the purposes of this Act, the Tribunal may, with the approval of the Minister, make use of the services of—(a) any members of staff of a racing controlling body, or(b) any person employed in a Public Service agency responsible to the Minister.(2) The Minister may, by order in writing, direct a racing controlling body to make available for the use of the Tribunal, in such manner as may be specified in the order, the services of any members of staff of the racing controlling body.(3) A racing controlling body shall not fail or refuse to comply with an order under subsection (2).Maximum penalty (subsection (3)): 5 penalty units.(4) In this section—racing controlling body has the same meaning as in the Betting and Racing Act 1998.s 19: Am 1992 No 112, Sch 1; 1996 No 37, Sch 2.5 [7]–[9]; 1997 No 24, Sch 2.4 [8]; 2004 No 23, Sch 2.1 [8]; 2015 No 15, Sch 3.51 [2] [3]; 2019 No 12, Sch 4[4]–[8].
20 Expenses of Tribunal
(1) Unless the Minister otherwise determines, the expenses (including remuneration payable to an expert under section 8A or payable under section 12) incurred by the Tribunal in the exercise of the functions of the Tribunal under this Act are to be met—(a) by Racing NSW in relation to an appeal to the Tribunal under section 15, or(b) for an appeal to the Tribunal under section 15A about a decision—(i) of Greyhound Racing New South Wales—by Greyhound Racing New South Wales, or(ii) of the Greyhound Welfare and Integrity Commission—by the Commission, or(c) by HRNSW in relation to an appeal to the Tribunal under section 15B.(2) If Racing NSW, Greyhound Racing New South Wales or HRNSW fails to meet any expenses it is required to meet under subsection (1), the Minister may recover the amount of those expenses from Racing NSW, Greyhound Racing New South Wales or HRNSW (as the case may be) as a debt in any court of competent jurisdiction.s 20: Am 1997 No 24, Sch 2.4 [8]; 2004 No 23, Sch 2.1 [8]. Subst 2009 No 21, Sch 1 [16]. Am 2017 No 13, Sch 7.10 [5]; 2022 No 22, Sch 4[2].
21 Service of documents
(1) A document that is authorised or required by this Act or the regulations to be served on any person may be served by any of the following methods—(a) in the case of an individual—by personal delivery to the person,(b) by post to the address specified by the person for the service of documents of that kind,(c) in the case of an individual who has not specified such an address—by post to the residential or business address of the person last known to the person serving the document,(d) in the case of a corporation—by post to the registered office or any other office of the corporation or by leaving it at any such office with a person apparently over the age of 16 years,(e) by email to an email address specified by the person for the service of documents of that kind,(f) by any other method authorised by the regulations for the service of documents of that kind.(2) Nothing in this section affects the operation of any provision of a law or of the rules of a court authorising a document to be served on a person by any other method.(3) In this section, serve includes give or send.s 21: Rep 1985 No 35, Sch 1 (9). Ins 2004 No 23, Sch 2.1 [9]. Subst 2019 No 12, Sch 4[9].
22 Proceedings for offences
Proceedings for an offence against this Act or the regulations may be taken before the Local Court.s 22: Am 1985 No 35, Sch 1 (10); 2007 No 94, Sch 4.
23 Regulations
(1) The Governor may make regulations, not inconsistent with this Act, for or with respect to any matter that by this Act is required or permitted to be prescribed or that is necessary or convenient to be prescribed for carrying out or giving effect to this Act.(2) A regulation may impose a penalty not exceeding 5 penalty units for any contravention thereof.(3) A provision of a regulation may—(a) apply generally or be limited in its application by reference to specified exceptions or factors,(b) apply differently according to different factors of a specified kind, oror may do any combination of those things.(c) authorise any matter or thing to be from time to time determined, applied or regulated by any specified person or body,s 23: Am 1992 No 112, Sch 1.
24 Savings and transitional provisions
Schedule 1 has effect.s 24: Ins 1998 No 66, Sch 2 [2].
Schedule 1 Savings and transitional provisions
(Section 24)
Part 1 General
1 Savings and transitional regulations
(1) The regulations may contain provisions of a savings or transitional nature consequent on the enactment of the following Acts—(2) A provision of a regulation authorised by this clause may, if the regulations so provide, take effect on the date of assent to the Act concerned or a later date.(3) To the extent to which a provision of a regulation authorised by this clause takes effect from a date that is earlier than the date of its publication in the Gazette, the provision does not operate—(a) to affect, in a manner prejudicial to any person (other than the State or an authority of the State), the rights of that person existing before the date of its publication, or(b) to impose liabilities on any person (other than the State or an authority of the State), in respect of anything done or omitted to be done before the date of its publication.
Part 2 Provisions consequent on enactment of Thoroughbred Racing Board Amendment Act 1998
2 Pending appeals
The amendment made by Schedule 2 [1] to the Thoroughbred Racing Board Amendment Act 1998 applies to decisions that the Board makes before or after the commencement of that amendment, other than those in respect of which an appeal is pending immediately before the commencement.
Part 3 Provisions consequent on enactment of Thoroughbred Racing Legislation Amendment Act 2004
3 Amendments made by Thoroughbred Racing Legislation Amendment Act 2004
(1) Section 15, as in force immediately before its substitution by the Thoroughbred Racing Legislation Amendment Act 2004, continues to apply in respect of decisions referred to in that section that were made before that substitution.(2) The provisions of Part 3 of this Act, and the regulations made under Part 3, continue to apply in respect of an appeal made to the Tribunal before the commencement of an amendment made to those provisions by the Thoroughbred Racing Legislation Amendment Act 2004 as if the amendment had not been enacted.(3) The amendments made to clause 1 of this Schedule by the Thoroughbred Racing Legislation Amendment Act 2004 do not affect the operation of any regulations made under that clause before the commencement of those amendments.
Part 4 Provisions consequent on enactment of Racing Legislation Amendment Act 2009
4 Definitions
In this Part—former Act means the Greyhound and Harness Racing Administration Act 2004.former Authority means the Greyhound and Harness Racing Regulatory Authority constituted by the former Act.former Tribunal means the Greyhound and Harness Racing Appeals Tribunal constituted by the former Act.
5 Pending proceedings before former Tribunal
(1) If proceedings were commenced but not heard by the former Tribunal before its dissolution, the proceedings are taken to have been duly commenced in the Racing Appeals Tribunal.(2) If the former Tribunal had commenced to hear (but had not determined) a matter before its dissolution, the person or persons hearing the matter—(a) are to continue to hear the matter, and to determine the matter, sitting as the Racing Appeals Tribunal, and(b) have and may exercise, while sitting as the Racing Appeals Tribunal under this clause, all the functions that the former Tribunal had immediately before its dissolution.(3) A reference in section 20—(a) to an appeal to the Tribunal under section 15A includes a reference to proceedings dealt with in accordance with this clause that relate to greyhound racing, and(b) to an appeal to the Tribunal under section 15B includes a reference to proceedings dealt with in accordance with this clause that relate to harness racing.(4) This clause applies despite any contrary provision of this Act.
6 Pending proceedings before Greyhound and Harness Racing Regulatory Authority
If an appeal was made to the former Authority under section 19 of the former Act before the repeal of that section and was not determined by that Authority before its dissolution, the appeal is taken to have been made to the Racing Appeals Tribunal under this Act and is to be determined by that Tribunal in accordance with this Act.
7 Regulations relating to greyhound racing and harness racing appeals
(1) The provisions of the Greyhound and Harness Racing Administration (Appeals) Regulation 2004 (as in force immediately before the repeal of section 19 of the former Act) are taken to apply to appeals relating to greyhound racing and harness racing dealt with by the Tribunal under this Act until regulations are made under this Act in relation to those appeals.(2) Despite subclause (1), those provisions apply with the following modifications—(a) clause 6 of that Regulation is taken to provide for an appeal to the Tribunal in relation to a decision specified in that clause,(b) a reference to the Tribunal is taken to be a reference to the Racing Appeals Tribunal,(c) a reference to a provision of the former Act is taken to be a reference to the corresponding provision of this Act (if any),(d) such other modifications as the Tribunal considers necessary.(3) This clause extends to proceedings referred to in clause 5.
8 Special inquiries under former Act
A special inquiry that was commenced under section 24 of the former Act but was not completed before the repeal of that section is not to be continued after that repeal.
9 Orders
(1) An order made under the former Act by the former Tribunal, being an order having effect immediately before the dissolution of the former Tribunal, is taken to be an order made by the Racing Appeals Tribunal under the corresponding provision of this Act.(2) Any application for an order made to the former Tribunal under the former Act and not determined before the dissolution of the former Tribunal is to continue to be dealt with as if made under this Act (but only if there is a corresponding provision of this Act under which the order could be made).
10 General savings
If anything done or commenced under the former Act in relation to the former Tribunal before its dissolution and still having effect or not completed immediately before that dissolution is something that could be done or commenced under this Act—(a) the thing done continues to have effect, or(b) the thing commenced may be completed, as if it had been done or commenced under this Act.
11 Assessors
On the repeal of section 8A by the Racing Legislation Amendment Act 2009, any person who immediately before that repeal held the position of assessor ceases to hold that position. No remuneration or compensation is payable to any such person as a result of the operation of this clause.
Part 5 Provisions consequent on enactment of Racing and Gambling Legislation Amendment Act 2022
12 Definition
In this Part—amending Act means the Racing and Gambling Legislation Amendment Act 2022.
13 Appeals to Tribunal relating to harness racing
For a decision made before the substitution of section 15B by the amending Act, section 15B as in force immediately before the substitution continues to apply as if it had not been substituted.
sch 1: Ins 1998 No 66, Sch 2 [3]. Am 2004 No 23, Sch 2.1 [10]–[12]; 2009 No 21, Sch 1 [17]–[21]; 2022 No 22, Sch 4[3].