2026-08-04
The ACT Government has revealed today it subsidises the horseracing industry’s bottom line by allowing horse trainers to access insurance under the Government’s Default Insurance Scheme - but offers nothing to community services struggling with the same costs.
In response to a Greens question, the government said the horseracing industry might experience ‘likely market failure’ without this unique subsidy. But the Government could not identify other industries with similar risks.
The Greens have been sounding the alarm for the community services sector - who in some cases have seen their insurance premiums rise by 450% since the 2019-20 financial year. The Government refused to identify the community sector’s financial failure as a likely risk.
This is despite ACTCOSS’s State of the Sector Survey 2025, indicating community organisations were considering a reduction in staff, and service delivery as ways to reduce expenses and afford rising insurance costs.
Lines attributable to Greens Community Sector Spokesperson, Laura Nuttall:
Struggling community sector organisations are being forced to take the hit of skyrocketing insurance premiums. It is astounding the Labor Government’s priority for insurance subsidy is the horseracing industry.
Today we asked the Minister for Skills and Training whether the ACT Government will include community sector organisations in the Government’s Default Insurance scheme.
The Minister attempted to justify the decision to include the horseracing industry in the scheme saying that there’s an “important distinction between frustrating rising premiums and market failure”.
It’s clear this Government doesn’t understand the real risk to community sector organisations - some of which may experience financial failure as a result of these rising insurance costs. The Minister conceded there are many reasons to include a sector in this scheme, but he has no plans to add community sector organisations.
Community services are already working within extremely small margins, any unexpected costs forces the organisations to cut expenses elsewhere. The answer should be simple - expanding this insurance subsidy to the vital community sector services who desperately need it. Instead, this Labor Government has made it clear the needs of the horseracing industry is more important than ordinary Canberrans doing it tough.
The services that support victims of domestic, sexual and family violence, those experiencing alcohol and other drug addiction and homelessness, shouldn't be left to the market. We should be doing everything we can to help them.
The Greens will continue to advocate against this double standard, and will always stand in support of community sector organisations.