New South Wales plans to repeal its four-decade-old motorsport safety legislation and move to an industry-led regulatory model, bringing the state closer to the approach used elsewhere in Australia.
The NSW Government says it will introduce legislation to repeal the Motor Vehicle Sports (Public Safety) Act 1985 when Parliament resumes next week.
The Bill is expected to be introduced on 13 October 2026. If passed, Motorsport Australia says the new arrangements are expected to commence in April 2027.
Current Licensing System Remains in Place for Now
The 1985 Act currently regulates motor vehicle racing grounds in NSW.
Under the existing system, the Office of Sport issues licences authorising motor vehicle race meetings at approved venues, with licences available for periods of up to 12 months.
The Office of Sport also relies on advice from recognised sanctioning bodies, including Motorsport Australia, Motorcycling NSW and the National Association of Speedway Racing, when assessing whether a venue is suitable to be licensed.
Those arrangements remain in force unless and until the repeal legislation passes Parliament and transitional arrangements take effect.
Industry Bodies Would Take Greater Regulatory Role
Under the proposed model, motorsport organisations would take greater responsibility for regulating competition and events.
Industry bodies already perform functions including:
- Competitor licensing
- Event sanctioning
- Safety standards
- Official accreditation
- Training
- Insurance-related requirements
The government argues that retaining a separate NSW licensing layer duplicates parts of the regulatory work already performed by national motorsport organisations.
Motorsport Australia has supported the proposed repeal while stressing that safety, sanctioning, insurance and accountability requirements would remain part of the industry-led framework.
Law Has Been Under Review for Several Years
The proposed repeal follows a long-running review of the legislation.
The NSW Government began consultation on the Motor Vehicle Sports Act in 2019, examining whether the existing regulatory framework remained appropriate for modern motorsport.
At the time, the Office of Sport noted that the Act had originally been introduced to improve safety standards for spectators and competitors while responding to technological developments in motorsport.
The Act itself dates from 1985 and replaced an earlier regulatory framework dating back to the 1950s.
NSW Motorsport Strategy Still Being Developed
The repeal is also expected to form part of a broader NSW Motorsport Strategy.
The strategy is still under development and will undergo further consultation before being finalised.
Areas expected to be considered include participation, access to motorsport facilities, workforce development, major events and the environmental impacts of motorsport.
The government has also linked the proposed regulatory changes to opportunities for regional venues and motorsport infrastructure, although those potential economic effects will depend on the final regulatory framework and future investment decisions.
Safety Requirements Expected to Continue
Industry-led regulation would not remove all safety obligations from motorsport events.
Motorsport Australia says the new model should retain nationally consistent standards for safety, sanctioning, insurance and governance.
Speedway Australia has similarly said existing safety standards are also tied to insurance requirements independently of the current NSW Act.
The transition therefore represents a change in who regulates and licenses motorsport activity, rather than the removal of safety rules altogether.
The repeal Bill is expected to be introduced to NSW Parliament on 13 October, after which the timing and final form of the transition will depend on whether the legislation passes.
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