❓ A WA parliamentary question probes the involvement of Racing and Wagering Western Australia in a racehorse syndication, questioning the use of taxpayer funds and ministerial approval. The Minister's response avoids direct answers.
AnsweredQoN 311Legislative Assembly
QuestionView source ↗
I refer to the competition being conducted by TABform, the Melbourne-based private horse syndicate Ken King Thoroughbreds, and Racing and Wagering Western Australia which is offering as a prize a share of a racehorse (1) Is it appropriate for a government body such as Racing and Wagering Western Australia to be involved in the syndication of a racehorse? (2) Did Racing and Wagering Western Australia obtain the minister’s prior approval for its involvement in the private syndication of a racehorse? (3) Did Racing and Wagering Western Australia use taxpayers’ funds to buy a share in this unproven racehorse; and, if not, what was the government’s financial contribution? (4) Is the minister aware that a condition of this syndication competition is that the winner is responsible for all expenses, which I believe total $200 a month, associated with the preparation and racing of this unproven horse as of 1 August this year? Mr M. McGOWAN
AnswerView source ↗
(1)-(4) I thank the member for South Perth for the question. As members might be aware, Racing and Wagering Western Australia is largely an independent body; it is not an on-budget body. It has been set up to handle the funds of the racing industry. We assist the racing industry in a range of ways and we have some involvement with racing and wagering in Western Australia. However, I do not know who owns a specific racehorse or the particular financial arrangements that are in place for a specific horse in a state in which there are thousands of racehorses. I do not have that piece of information about that single racehorse. We also have a lot of greyhounds in Western Australia. I am not across the details of every greyhound. We also have a range of horses involved in the harness industry and I cannot advise the member for South Perth about the details of every horse involved in harness racing. I cannot provide the details about the specific racehorse. I have a good relationship with the member for South Perth; I think he is a reasonable and honourable person. If he would like to see me after question time, I am sure I will then be able to answer the question.
(1) Is it appropriate for a government body such as Racing and Wagering Western Australia to be involved in the syndication of a racehorse? (2) Did Racing and Wagering Western Australia obtain the minister’s prior approval for its involvement in the private syndication of a racehorse? (3) Did Racing and Wagering Western Australia use taxpayers’ funds to buy a share in this unproven racehorse; and, if not, what was the government’s financial contribution? (4) Is the minister aware that a condition of this syndication competition is that the winner is responsible for all expenses, which I believe total $200 a month, associated with the preparation and racing of this unproven horse as of 1 August this year? Mr M. McGOWAN replied: (1)-(4) I thank the member for South Perth for the question. As members might be aware, Racing and Wagering Western Australia is largely an independent body; it is not an on-budget body. It has been set up to handle the funds of the racing industry. We assist the racing industry in a range of ways and we have some involvement with racing and wagering in Western Australia. However, I do not know who owns a specific racehorse or the particular financial arrangements that are in place for a specific horse in a state in which there are thousands of racehorses. I do not have that piece of information about that single racehorse. We also have a lot of greyhounds in Western Australia. I am not across the details of every greyhound. We also have a range of horses involved in the harness industry and I cannot advise the member for South Perth about the details of every horse involved in harness racing. I cannot provide the details about the specific racehorse. I have a good relationship with the member for South Perth; I think he is a reasonable and honourable person. If he would like to see me after question time, I am sure I will then be able to answer the question.
(2) Did Racing and Wagering Western Australia obtain the minister’s prior approval for its involvement in the private syndication of a racehorse? (3) Did Racing and Wagering Western Australia use taxpayers’ funds to buy a share in this unproven racehorse; and, if not, what was the government’s financial contribution? (4) Is the minister aware that a condition of this syndication competition is that the winner is responsible for all expenses, which I believe total $200 a month, associated with the preparation and racing of this unproven horse as of 1 August this year? Mr M. McGOWAN replied: (1)-(4) I thank the member for South Perth for the question. As members might be aware, Racing and Wagering Western Australia is largely an independent body; it is not an on-budget body. It has been set up to handle the funds of the racing industry. We assist the racing industry in a range of ways and we have some involvement with racing and wagering in Western Australia. However, I do not know who owns a specific racehorse or the particular financial arrangements that are in place for a specific horse in a state in which there are thousands of racehorses. I do not have that piece of information about that single racehorse. We also have a lot of greyhounds in Western Australia. I am not across the details of every greyhound. We also have a range of horses involved in the harness industry and I cannot advise the member for South Perth about the details of every horse involved in harness racing. I cannot provide the details about the specific racehorse. I have a good relationship with the member for South Perth; I think he is a reasonable and honourable person. If he would like to see me after question time, I am sure I will then be able to answer the question.
(3) Did Racing and Wagering Western Australia use taxpayers’ funds to buy a share in this unproven racehorse; and, if not, what was the government’s financial contribution? (4) Is the minister aware that a condition of this syndication competition is that the winner is responsible for all expenses, which I believe total $200 a month, associated with the preparation and racing of this unproven horse as of 1 August this year? Mr M. McGOWAN replied: (1)-(4) I thank the member for South Perth for the question. As members might be aware, Racing and Wagering Western Australia is largely an independent body; it is not an on-budget body. It has been set up to handle the funds of the racing industry. We assist the racing industry in a range of ways and we have some involvement with racing and wagering in Western Australia. However, I do not know who owns a specific racehorse or the particular financial arrangements that are in place for a specific horse in a state in which there are thousands of racehorses. I do not have that piece of information about that single racehorse. We also have a lot of greyhounds in Western Australia. I am not across the details of every greyhound. We also have a range of horses involved in the harness industry and I cannot advise the member for South Perth about the details of every horse involved in harness racing. I cannot provide the details about the specific racehorse. I have a good relationship with the member for South Perth; I think he is a reasonable and honourable person. If he would like to see me after question time, I am sure I will then be able to answer the question.
(4) Is the minister aware that a condition of this syndication competition is that the winner is responsible for all expenses, which I believe total $200 a month, associated with the preparation and racing of this unproven horse as of 1 August this year? Mr M. McGOWAN replied: (1)-(4) I thank the member for South Perth for the question. As members might be aware, Racing and Wagering Western Australia is largely an independent body; it is not an on-budget body. It has been set up to handle the funds of the racing industry. We assist the racing industry in a range of ways and we have some involvement with racing and wagering in Western Australia. However, I do not know who owns a specific racehorse or the particular financial arrangements that are in place for a specific horse in a state in which there are thousands of racehorses. I do not have that piece of information about that single racehorse. We also have a lot of greyhounds in Western Australia. I am not across the details of every greyhound. We also have a range of horses involved in the harness industry and I cannot advise the member for South Perth about the details of every horse involved in harness racing. I cannot provide the details about the specific racehorse. I have a good relationship with the member for South Perth; I think he is a reasonable and honourable person. If he would like to see me after question time, I am sure I will then be able to answer the question.
Mr M. McGOWAN replied: (1)-(4) I thank the member for South Perth for the question. As members might be aware, Racing and Wagering Western Australia is largely an independent body; it is not an on-budget body. It has been set up to handle the funds of the racing industry. We assist the racing industry in a range of ways and we have some involvement with racing and wagering in Western Australia. However, I do not know who owns a specific racehorse or the particular financial arrangements that are in place for a specific horse in a state in which there are thousands of racehorses. I do not have that piece of information about that single racehorse. We also have a lot of greyhounds in Western Australia. I am not across the details of every greyhound. We also have a range of horses involved in the harness industry and I cannot advise the member for South Perth about the details of every horse involved in harness racing. I cannot provide the details about the specific racehorse. I have a good relationship with the member for South Perth; I think he is a reasonable and honourable person. If he would like to see me after question time, I am sure I will then be able to answer the question.
(1)-(4) I thank the member for South Perth for the question. As members might be aware, Racing and Wagering Western Australia is largely an independent body; it is not an on-budget body. It has been set up to handle the funds of the racing industry. We assist the racing industry in a range of ways and we have some involvement with racing and wagering in Western Australia. However, I do not know who owns a specific racehorse or the particular financial arrangements that are in place for a specific horse in a state in which there are thousands of racehorses. I do not have that piece of information about that single racehorse. We also have a lot of greyhounds in Western Australia. I am not across the details of every greyhound. We also have a range of horses involved in the harness industry and I cannot advise the member for South Perth about the details of every horse involved in harness racing. I cannot provide the details about the specific racehorse. I have a good relationship with the member for South Perth; I think he is a reasonable and honourable person. If he would like to see me after question time, I am sure I will then be able to answer the question.
(1) Is it appropriate for a government body such as Racing and Wagering Western Australia to be involved in the syndication of a racehorse? (2) Did Racing and Wagering Western Australia obtain the minister’s prior approval for its involvement in the private syndication of a racehorse? (3) Did Racing and Wagering Western Australia use taxpayers’ funds to buy a share in this unproven racehorse; and, if not, what was the government’s financial contribution? (4) Is the minister aware that a condition of this syndication competition is that the winner is responsible for all expenses, which I believe total $200 a month, associated with the preparation and racing of this unproven horse as of 1 August this year? Mr M. McGOWAN replied: (1)-(4) I thank the member for South Perth for the question. As members might be aware, Racing and Wagering Western Australia is largely an independent body; it is not an on-budget body. It has been set up to handle the funds of the racing industry. We assist the racing industry in a range of ways and we have some involvement with racing and wagering in Western Australia. However, I do not know who owns a specific racehorse or the particular financial arrangements that are in place for a specific horse in a state in which there are thousands of racehorses. I do not have that piece of information about that single racehorse. We also have a lot of greyhounds in Western Australia. I am not across the details of every greyhound. We also have a range of horses involved in the harness industry and I cannot advise the member for South Perth about the details of every horse involved in harness racing. I cannot provide the details about the specific racehorse. I have a good relationship with the member for South Perth; I think he is a reasonable and honourable person. If he would like to see me after question time, I am sure I will then be able to answer the question.
(2) Did Racing and Wagering Western Australia obtain the minister’s prior approval for its involvement in the private syndication of a racehorse? (3) Did Racing and Wagering Western Australia use taxpayers’ funds to buy a share in this unproven racehorse; and, if not, what was the government’s financial contribution? (4) Is the minister aware that a condition of this syndication competition is that the winner is responsible for all expenses, which I believe total $200 a month, associated with the preparation and racing of this unproven horse as of 1 August this year? Mr M. McGOWAN replied: (1)-(4) I thank the member for South Perth for the question. As members might be aware, Racing and Wagering Western Australia is largely an independent body; it is not an on-budget body. It has been set up to handle the funds of the racing industry. We assist the racing industry in a range of ways and we have some involvement with racing and wagering in Western Australia. However, I do not know who owns a specific racehorse or the particular financial arrangements that are in place for a specific horse in a state in which there are thousands of racehorses. I do not have that piece of information about that single racehorse. We also have a lot of greyhounds in Western Australia. I am not across the details of every greyhound. We also have a range of horses involved in the harness industry and I cannot advise the member for South Perth about the details of every horse involved in harness racing. I cannot provide the details about the specific racehorse. I have a good relationship with the member for South Perth; I think he is a reasonable and honourable person. If he would like to see me after question time, I am sure I will then be able to answer the question.
(3) Did Racing and Wagering Western Australia use taxpayers’ funds to buy a share in this unproven racehorse; and, if not, what was the government’s financial contribution? (4) Is the minister aware that a condition of this syndication competition is that the winner is responsible for all expenses, which I believe total $200 a month, associated with the preparation and racing of this unproven horse as of 1 August this year? Mr M. McGOWAN replied: (1)-(4) I thank the member for South Perth for the question. As members might be aware, Racing and Wagering Western Australia is largely an independent body; it is not an on-budget body. It has been set up to handle the funds of the racing industry. We assist the racing industry in a range of ways and we have some involvement with racing and wagering in Western Australia. However, I do not know who owns a specific racehorse or the particular financial arrangements that are in place for a specific horse in a state in which there are thousands of racehorses. I do not have that piece of information about that single racehorse. We also have a lot of greyhounds in Western Australia. I am not across the details of every greyhound. We also have a range of horses involved in the harness industry and I cannot advise the member for South Perth about the details of every horse involved in harness racing. I cannot provide the details about the specific racehorse. I have a good relationship with the member for South Perth; I think he is a reasonable and honourable person. If he would like to see me after question time, I am sure I will then be able to answer the question.
(4) Is the minister aware that a condition of this syndication competition is that the winner is responsible for all expenses, which I believe total $200 a month, associated with the preparation and racing of this unproven horse as of 1 August this year? Mr M. McGOWAN replied: (1)-(4) I thank the member for South Perth for the question. As members might be aware, Racing and Wagering Western Australia is largely an independent body; it is not an on-budget body. It has been set up to handle the funds of the racing industry. We assist the racing industry in a range of ways and we have some involvement with racing and wagering in Western Australia. However, I do not know who owns a specific racehorse or the particular financial arrangements that are in place for a specific horse in a state in which there are thousands of racehorses. I do not have that piece of information about that single racehorse. We also have a lot of greyhounds in Western Australia. I am not across the details of every greyhound. We also have a range of horses involved in the harness industry and I cannot advise the member for South Perth about the details of every horse involved in harness racing. I cannot provide the details about the specific racehorse. I have a good relationship with the member for South Perth; I think he is a reasonable and honourable person. If he would like to see me after question time, I am sure I will then be able to answer the question.
Mr M. McGOWAN replied: (1)-(4) I thank the member for South Perth for the question. As members might be aware, Racing and Wagering Western Australia is largely an independent body; it is not an on-budget body. It has been set up to handle the funds of the racing industry. We assist the racing industry in a range of ways and we have some involvement with racing and wagering in Western Australia. However, I do not know who owns a specific racehorse or the particular financial arrangements that are in place for a specific horse in a state in which there are thousands of racehorses. I do not have that piece of information about that single racehorse. We also have a lot of greyhounds in Western Australia. I am not across the details of every greyhound. We also have a range of horses involved in the harness industry and I cannot advise the member for South Perth about the details of every horse involved in harness racing. I cannot provide the details about the specific racehorse. I have a good relationship with the member for South Perth; I think he is a reasonable and honourable person. If he would like to see me after question time, I am sure I will then be able to answer the question.
(1)-(4) I thank the member for South Perth for the question. As members might be aware, Racing and Wagering Western Australia is largely an independent body; it is not an on-budget body. It has been set up to handle the funds of the racing industry. We assist the racing industry in a range of ways and we have some involvement with racing and wagering in Western Australia. However, I do not know who owns a specific racehorse or the particular financial arrangements that are in place for a specific horse in a state in which there are thousands of racehorses. I do not have that piece of information about that single racehorse. We also have a lot of greyhounds in Western Australia. I am not across the details of every greyhound. We also have a range of horses involved in the harness industry and I cannot advise the member for South Perth about the details of every horse involved in harness racing. I cannot provide the details about the specific racehorse. I have a good relationship with the member for South Perth; I think he is a reasonable and honourable person. If he would like to see me after question time, I am sure I will then be able to answer the question.
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