Before section 17 of the Principal Act , the following Division is inserted in Part III:

Division 1 - General provisions

16I.     Racing Councils

(1)  The Authority is supported by the following 3 specialist councils:

(a) Tasmanian Thoroughbred Racing Council;

(b) Tasmanian Harness Racing Council;

(c) Tasmanian Greyhound Racing Council.

(2)  A person is not eligible to be appointed or elected, or continue, as a member of a Council if the person is, or becomes –

(a) an appointed member of the Authority under section 6(1)(d) , (e) , (f) or (g) ; or

(b) a member of another Council; or

(c) a paid official of a racing club; or

(d) registered as a bookmaker or bookmaker's clerk; or

(e) the holder of a licence under any Rules of Racing, other than as an owner; or

(f) disqualified under any Rules of Racing; or

(g) subject to a notice under section 39 of the Racing and Gaming Act 1952 .

(3)  Schedule 2 has effect in relation to the meetings of a Council.

16J.   General functions and powers of Councils

(1)  Each Council performs the following functions for its code of racing:

(a) makes Rules of Racing;

(b) prepares budgets and amendments to budgets for approval by the Authority;

(c) registers and licenses matters relevant to that code of racing including matters required to be registered or licensed under its Rules of Racing:

(d) programs races;

(e) supervises, co-ordinates and sets standards in respect of the training and welfare of persons such as apprentice jockeys and junior drivers;

(f) advises the Authority;

(g) represents the State at national forums;

(h) performs such other functions as it may be required by this or any other Act to perform.

(2)  A Council may do all things necessary or convenient to be done in connection with, or incidental to, the performance of its functions.

(3)  A Council must perform its functions and exercise its powers in accordance with its Rules of Racing.

(4)  A person appointed as a stipendiary steward for a Council under section 40A of the Racing and Gaming Act 1952 is under the direction of that Council for the purposes of administering its Rules of Racing.

16K.   Directions by Authority

(1)  The Authority may give a Council any directions that the Authority considers necessary or desirable relating to –

(a) the functions or powers of a Council under this or any other Act; or

(b) matters of policy; or

(c) the general nature and extent of the operations of the Council.

(2)  The Authority's power to direct the affairs of a Council is not to be exercised so as to –

(a) require the Council to do anything that it is not empowered to do by this or any other Act; or

(b) prevent the Council from performing a function that it is expressly required by this or any other Act to perform; or

(c) interfere with the Council forming a belief or opinion on any matter.

(3)  The Authority may revoke or amend a direction given to a Council.

(4)  A Council is bound by a direction of the Authority that is in writing and signed by the Director.

16L.     Reports of Councils

(1)  Each Council must, before 31 October in each year, submit a report to the Authority on its activities for the financial year ending on 31 July of that year.

(2)  The report is to be included in the Authority's annual report for the same financial year.