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Jockeys held the inaugural meeting, at Sydney's Randwick Racecourse, of their new national body “designed to push for better racetrack safety standards & improve financial protection for injured colleagues,” reported appracingandsports.com.au. The Australian Jockeys' Association hoped to “negotiate Australia-wide protection for all jockeys, including insurance, superannuation, a pension fund & a benevolent trust fund.” Following recent serious racetrack accidents, the AJA also wanted co-ordinated action to improve safety standards for its members.

AJA chairman Paul Innes said: "Uniform safety standards are essential to provide a consistent & safe working environment." Between 25-40% of all jockeys were injured in the past 12 months, he noted. The national unification of jockey organisations followed action taken last year to address the public liability crisis sparked by the collapse of HIH Insurance. Innes added the AJA “would be represented in industrial negotiations by the Australian Workers' Union.”

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