(1)  The Secretary of the Department may, in accordance with this section, appoint –

(a) stipendiary stewards to enforce the Rules of Racing of one or more codes of racing; and

(b) betting supervisors to assist the Director in supervising betting; and

(c) branding officers to conduct the branding of animals for one or more codes of racing; and

(d) handicappers to determine field selections and handicaps in harness races; and

(e) graders to determine field selections and grading in greyhound races.

(2)  A person is not capable of being appointed as a stipendiary steward for thoroughbred racing unless the Thoroughbred Racing Regulatory Panel has recommended the appointment.

(3)  In appointing stipendiary stewards for harness racing or greyhound racing, the Secretary of the Department is to have regard to the recommendations of the regulatory panel for that code of racing.

(4)  An appointment under subsection (1) is to be on such conditions as the Secretary of the Department determines and specifies in the instrument of appointment.

(5)  A person holding an appointment under subsection (1) is not subject to the State Service Act 2000 but a State Service officer or State Service employee may hold such an appointment in conjunction with State Service employment.

(6)  A person holding an appointment under subsection (1) may only be dismissed or suspended from office by the Secretary of the Department.

(7)  Despite any law or Rules of Racing to the contrary, a Council or registered club is not capable of –

(a) appointing or dismissing a person as a stipendiary steward or other racing official; or

(b) authorising or requiring a person to perform, or not perform, the functions of a stipendiary steward or other racing official; or

(c) performing the functions of a stipendiary steward or other racing official in its own right.

(8)  Any purported appointment, dismissal or authorisation contrary to subsection (7)(a) or (b) is void.

(9)  Any purported performance of functions contrary to subsection (7)(c) is void.

(10)  A registered club must provide stipendiary stewards with such reasonable accommodation and facilities as will enable them to perform their functions in a secure and effective manner.