Shadow Minister for Gaming and Racing Mark Parton has lashed out at the Labor-Greens government following the release of a development plan to absorb Thoroughbred Park that would see racing scrapped in the ACT.

Mr Parton said the proposal was put forward under the draft Inner North and City District Strategy Proposal as part of the Territory Plan released yesterday without any consultation whatsoever with the race club.

“This is an utter disgrace and what we see here is clear proof that the ACT is genuinely staring down the barrel of being the only jurisdiction in Australia without horse racing,” Mr Parton said.

“Canberrans should be very concerned with how two faced this Labor-Greens government is. This is not how consultation works and to release a very clear plan to end racing in the ACT on Melbourne Cup day is cruel.

“Labor and the Greens have now put forward their intention to stop racing in the ACT to develop the land at Thoroughbred Park to help pay for the tram.

“The race club has been completely blindsided by this when they are busy putting on a Melbourne Cup raceday and once again the ACT Greens are dictating terms to the Labor Party on this matter,” Mr Parton concluded.