(i) The type of whip used in Australia.

(ii) New regulations that tightly limit the circumstances in which a whip may be used.

(iii) New regulations that tightly limit the way in which a whip may be used.

(iv) A comprehensive campaign to educate riders on compliance with the new rules.

(v) A national code of penalties for breaches of the whip rules

(vi) The use of stockwhips on thoroughbreds, while currently banned in a number of jurisdictions, will now have the force of a national ban under the Australian Rules of Racing.

"We have considered all the arguments for and against padded whips. The best scientific advice available to us says that padded whips do not inflict pain or injury, and that is the outcome we want. A number of other countries are watching very closely what we do here and I think will follow our lead in the near future."

2. New regulations that tightly limit the circumstances in which a whip may be used

5. The amended Rule of Racing concerning whip use will be as follows:

(1) (a) Only padded whips of a design and specifications approved by a panel appointed by the Australian Racing Board may be carried in races or official trials.

(b) Every such whip must be in a satisfactory condition and must not be modified in any way.

(c) The Stewards may confiscate any whip which in their opinion is not in a satisfactory condition or has been modified.

(d) Any rider who has been found guilty of a breach of this subrule may be penalised. Provided that the master and/or other person who is in charge of an apprentice jockey at the relevant time may also be penalised unless he satisfies the Stewards that he took all proper care to ensure the apprentice complied with the rule.

(2) Only whips of a design and specifications approved by a panel appointed by the Australian Racing Board may be carried in trackwork.

( 3) The Stewards may penalise any rider who in a race, trial or trackwork, or elsewhere uses his whip in an excessive, unnecessary or improper manner.

(4) Without affecting the generality of subrule (3) of this rule, the Stewards may penalise any rider who in a race or trial uses his whip -

(a) forward of his horse’s shoulder or in the vicinity of its head; or

(b) using an action that raises his arm above shoulder height; or

(c) when his horse is out of contention; or

(d) when his horse is showing no response; or

(e) after passing the winning post; or

(f) causing injury to his horse; or

(g) when his horse is clearly winning ; or

(h) has no reasonable prospect of improving or losing its position, or

(i) in such manner that the seam of the flap is the point of contact with the horse, unless the rider satisfies the Stewards that this was neither deliberate nor reckless.

(5) In a race or trial a rider using the whip must give his horse time to respond and, other than on one occasion in the last 200 metres when the whip may be used in three consecutive strides, the whip shall not to be used in consecutive strides, other than in a slapping motion down the shoulder, with the whip hand remaining on the reins, or alternatively in a backhand manner.

(6) A rider shall not use the whip more than 5 times prior to the 200 metres other than with a slapping motion down the shoulder, with the whip hand remaining on the reins, or alternatively in a backhand manner

(7) (a) Any trainer, owner or authorised agent must not give instructions to a rider regarding the use of the whip which, if carried out, might result in a breach of this rule.

(b) No person may offer inducements to a rider, to use the whip in such a way that, if carried out, might result in a breach of this rule.