❓ Mr Murray questions the Premier about privatising the WA TAB, citing warnings from industry figures. The Premier acknowledges the potential benefits of privatisation for the racing industry but doesn't rule it out, framing it as a significant opportunity for modernisation and growth.
AnsweredQoN 83Legislative Assembly
QuestionView source ↗
TOTALISATOR AGENCY BOARD — PRIVATISATION
83. Mr M.P. MURRAY to the
Premier:
I refer to repeated warnings about privatising the WA TAB,
including from the former Premier of Victoria Jeff Kennett, the chairman of
Racing Victoria, and most recently one of Western Australia's legendary
and leading trainers in Fred Kersley. Will the Premier now categorically rule
out privatising the TAB; and, if not, why should the racing industry pay the
price for the Premier's financial mismanagement?
83. Mr M.P. MURRAY to the
Premier:
I refer to repeated warnings about privatising the WA TAB,
including from the former Premier of Victoria Jeff Kennett, the chairman of
Racing Victoria, and most recently one of Western Australia's legendary
and leading trainers in Fred Kersley. Will the Premier now categorically rule
out privatising the TAB; and, if not, why should the racing industry pay the
price for the Premier's financial mismanagement?
AnswerView source ↗
When the Ernst and Young report was done for the government,
a number of assets were identified as potential privatisations—the TAB
being one of them. I think most members would agree that if we had a clean
sheet of paper or whatever else and were inventing government, a betting agency
would not be a part of government.
Mr B.S. Wyatt : We
wouldn't have a potato marketing board either.
Mr C.J. BARNETT :
No, we would not.
That is the reality. It is not a natural or even proper —
Mr B.J. Grylls interjected.
The SPEAKER :
Member for Pilbara, I call you to order for the first time.
Mr C.J. BARNETT : A
betting agency is not a proper or normal function of government. However, it
plays an important role in the racing industry, which is a big employer, and
provides revenue to that industry. I would say to the racing industry that this
is the great roll of the dice. The racing industry is in difficulty. It is not
just one Magic Millions sale. The industry is in difficulty —
Several members interjected.
The SPEAKER :
Members!
Mr C.J. BARNETT :
Sometimes in this Parliament it is difficult to make a reasoned comment on an
important issue. I am trying to do so. The TAB, if it were sold, arguably could
realise up to $1 billion. I do not know what the final figure might be. The
Australian Capital Territory's TAB sold for about $150 million. It is a
financial asset of some value.
There are other issues facing the racing industry. We are
trying to maintain two racetracks side by side in the eastern suburbs. My view
is that those facilities are well below standard. They date back to the 1960s.
They are not up to standard. That might be part of the reason why crowds are 2 000
or so.
Several members interjected.
The
SPEAKER : Members!
Mr C.J. BARNETT :
Mr Speaker, it is so difficult to have a sensible debate in this Parliament.
These are the issues. This is the big roll of the dice for
the racing industry. There could be a scenario in which the TAB is privatised,
one of the major tracks in Perth is closed and the land sold, and the building
of an outer metropolitan racetrack, training facility, stables and equestrian
area could be all done, all funded. That is the one chance the racing industry
will probably have in the next 50 years. The Minister for Racing and Gaming,
the parliamentary secretary, the member for South Perth and I are talking to
the racing industry. We are informally discussing the opportunities with the
racing industry. There is a great opportunity for racing right now. The easy
thing is to simply say, ''No change—let's stay back in
the 60s.'' That will not serve racing into the future. Racing has a
great opportunity to connect with major racing clubs throughout Asia, not only
in racing but also in horse breeding, selling, training—the lot. That
is where the discussion is at. The government will not progress with
privatisation this calendar year, but that discussion is taking place around
the racing industry. It is the one great opportunity, the one roll of the dice,
for racing. The member for Collie–Preston should be a part of it. He
should engage in that because it could have wonderful implications for racing
in WA.
a number of assets were identified as potential privatisations—the TAB
being one of them. I think most members would agree that if we had a clean
sheet of paper or whatever else and were inventing government, a betting agency
would not be a part of government.
Mr B.S. Wyatt : We
wouldn't have a potato marketing board either.
Mr C.J. BARNETT :
No, we would not.
That is the reality. It is not a natural or even proper —
Mr B.J. Grylls interjected.
The SPEAKER :
Member for Pilbara, I call you to order for the first time.
Mr C.J. BARNETT : A
betting agency is not a proper or normal function of government. However, it
plays an important role in the racing industry, which is a big employer, and
provides revenue to that industry. I would say to the racing industry that this
is the great roll of the dice. The racing industry is in difficulty. It is not
just one Magic Millions sale. The industry is in difficulty —
Several members interjected.
The SPEAKER :
Members!
Mr C.J. BARNETT :
Sometimes in this Parliament it is difficult to make a reasoned comment on an
important issue. I am trying to do so. The TAB, if it were sold, arguably could
realise up to $1 billion. I do not know what the final figure might be. The
Australian Capital Territory's TAB sold for about $150 million. It is a
financial asset of some value.
There are other issues facing the racing industry. We are
trying to maintain two racetracks side by side in the eastern suburbs. My view
is that those facilities are well below standard. They date back to the 1960s.
They are not up to standard. That might be part of the reason why crowds are 2 000
or so.
Several members interjected.
The
SPEAKER : Members!
Mr C.J. BARNETT :
Mr Speaker, it is so difficult to have a sensible debate in this Parliament.
These are the issues. This is the big roll of the dice for
the racing industry. There could be a scenario in which the TAB is privatised,
one of the major tracks in Perth is closed and the land sold, and the building
of an outer metropolitan racetrack, training facility, stables and equestrian
area could be all done, all funded. That is the one chance the racing industry
will probably have in the next 50 years. The Minister for Racing and Gaming,
the parliamentary secretary, the member for South Perth and I are talking to
the racing industry. We are informally discussing the opportunities with the
racing industry. There is a great opportunity for racing right now. The easy
thing is to simply say, ''No change—let's stay back in
the 60s.'' That will not serve racing into the future. Racing has a
great opportunity to connect with major racing clubs throughout Asia, not only
in racing but also in horse breeding, selling, training—the lot. That
is where the discussion is at. The government will not progress with
privatisation this calendar year, but that discussion is taking place around
the racing industry. It is the one great opportunity, the one roll of the dice,
for racing. The member for Collie–Preston should be a part of it. He
should engage in that because it could have wonderful implications for racing
in WA.
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