❓ Mr. Murray questions the Minister for Racing and Gaming about the lack of consultation with key stakeholders regarding proposed amendments to the Racing Penalties (Appeals) Act 1990, despite apparent industry support. The Minister defends the decision, citing a lack of consensus and the importance of integrity.
AnsweredQoN 245Legislative Assembly
QuestionView source ↗
RACING AND WAGERING WESTERN AUSTRALIA — RACING PENALTIES
(APPEALS) ACT —PROPOSED AMENDMENTS
245. Mr M.P. MURRAY to the
Minister for Racing and Gaming:
I was so
surprised that he stood!
I refer to advice from the minister's
principal policy adviser, Mr Jon Nichols, that the minister would not meet with
key stakeholder groups about proposed amendments to the Racing Penalties
(Appeals) Act 1990, saying that there was no consensus in the industry about
the changes.
(1) Why does
Racing and Wagering Western Australia not consider the Western Australian
Jockey's Association; the Australian Jockeys' Association; the
Western Australian Trotting Association; Perth Racing; the Western Australian
Harness Racing Breeders, Owners, Trainers and Reinspersons Association; and the
Western Australian Provincial Thoroughbred Racing Association's support
of amendments an industry consensus?
(2) Why is
Racing and Wagering Western Australia not fulfilling its role to support and
represent the views of industry stakeholders in this case?
(APPEALS) ACT —PROPOSED AMENDMENTS
245. Mr M.P. MURRAY to the
Minister for Racing and Gaming:
I was so
surprised that he stood!
I refer to advice from the minister's
principal policy adviser, Mr Jon Nichols, that the minister would not meet with
key stakeholder groups about proposed amendments to the Racing Penalties
(Appeals) Act 1990, saying that there was no consensus in the industry about
the changes.
(1) Why does
Racing and Wagering Western Australia not consider the Western Australian
Jockey's Association; the Australian Jockeys' Association; the
Western Australian Trotting Association; Perth Racing; the Western Australian
Harness Racing Breeders, Owners, Trainers and Reinspersons Association; and the
Western Australian Provincial Thoroughbred Racing Association's support
of amendments an industry consensus?
(2) Why is
Racing and Wagering Western Australia not fulfilling its role to support and
represent the views of industry stakeholders in this case?
AnswerView source ↗
(1)–(2)
I thank the member for Collie–Preston for the question. So that the
member will know, I have met with and corresponded with the Western Australian
Jockey's Association on this issue, and I understand fully —
Mr
M.P. Murray interjected.
Mr
T.K. WALDRON : Just listen. I have met with it on the issue and I have
corresponded with it on the issue, and I understand fully what its issue is. I
expressed right from the start that I had concerns about the proposed changes.
This is about integrity, which is the very basis of the racing industry.
Integrity is very important. Therefore, I will not make any change unless I am
guaranteed that that will be the best for integrity.
The Western Australian Jockey's
Association went around and saw all the different groups. What it probably
should have done is see Racing and Wagering Western Australia, which is the
body that represents all those groups. But, nevertheless, it went to each group
and it told those groups what it wanted to see happen. Some of those groups
have supported it, as the member said. Not all those groups have supported it.
There are different groups that the member listed that have supported it, and
there are also groups that have not supported it. RWWA is now meeting with all
those industry groups. Once RWWA has done that, it will let me know whether it
thinks there is consensus and there should be any change. I do not think there
will be consensus, because, for instance, the WA Country Racing Association has
written to me to say it does not support the change. Australian Harness Racing
does not support the change. When I go over east and meet with other racing
ministers, they say they like the system that we have. We have a very good
system, which is high in integrity. I have an open mind. I am happy to look at
it. If the whole industry and RWWA are telling me —
Mr
M.P. Murray interjected.
Mr
T.K. WALDRON : I am happy to meet with them. I have already met with them,
member. I do not want to meet with them again until we have been through the
process. I have actually met with them on more than one occasion. I have
written to them and let them know what I am doing. The member is saying the
whole industry agrees. There is no consensus across the industry.
Mr
M.P. Murray interjected.
Mr
T.K. WALDRON : The member for Collie–Preston is a country member of
Parliament. Country Racing has written to me saying it does not support it. Hello!
So there we go. What they have not done is sit down with RWWA, which the former
Labor government appointed. RWWA was put together—I think that was a
good decision—to represent the industry, and that is what it is doing.
I thank the member for Collie–Preston for the question. So that the
member will know, I have met with and corresponded with the Western Australian
Jockey's Association on this issue, and I understand fully —
Mr
M.P. Murray interjected.
Mr
T.K. WALDRON : Just listen. I have met with it on the issue and I have
corresponded with it on the issue, and I understand fully what its issue is. I
expressed right from the start that I had concerns about the proposed changes.
This is about integrity, which is the very basis of the racing industry.
Integrity is very important. Therefore, I will not make any change unless I am
guaranteed that that will be the best for integrity.
The Western Australian Jockey's
Association went around and saw all the different groups. What it probably
should have done is see Racing and Wagering Western Australia, which is the
body that represents all those groups. But, nevertheless, it went to each group
and it told those groups what it wanted to see happen. Some of those groups
have supported it, as the member said. Not all those groups have supported it.
There are different groups that the member listed that have supported it, and
there are also groups that have not supported it. RWWA is now meeting with all
those industry groups. Once RWWA has done that, it will let me know whether it
thinks there is consensus and there should be any change. I do not think there
will be consensus, because, for instance, the WA Country Racing Association has
written to me to say it does not support the change. Australian Harness Racing
does not support the change. When I go over east and meet with other racing
ministers, they say they like the system that we have. We have a very good
system, which is high in integrity. I have an open mind. I am happy to look at
it. If the whole industry and RWWA are telling me —
Mr
M.P. Murray interjected.
Mr
T.K. WALDRON : I am happy to meet with them. I have already met with them,
member. I do not want to meet with them again until we have been through the
process. I have actually met with them on more than one occasion. I have
written to them and let them know what I am doing. The member is saying the
whole industry agrees. There is no consensus across the industry.
Mr
M.P. Murray interjected.
Mr
T.K. WALDRON : The member for Collie–Preston is a country member of
Parliament. Country Racing has written to me saying it does not support it. Hello!
So there we go. What they have not done is sit down with RWWA, which the former
Labor government appointed. RWWA was put together—I think that was a
good decision—to represent the industry, and that is what it is doing.
Explore WA Government Data
Search the full archive in the free dashboard, or query programmatically via API.
Explore more
Government Gazette
Appointments, regulatory notices, planning changes.
Hansard
Debates, questions, speeches and sentiment.
Tabled Papers
Reports and documents tabled in Parliament.
Committees
Committee profiles and recent reports.
Regulations
Subsidiary legislation with filters and summaries.
Bills
Proposed laws and parliamentary progress.
Acts
Current WA legislation and summaries.
Explanatory Memoranda
Bills with EMs (text/PDF) available.
Members
MP profiles, party breakdown and rankings.
Pollie Rankings
Data-driven rankings across 19 categories.
Amendment Chains
Track how schemes and regulations evolve over time.