❓ Mr. McGrath asks the Minister for Racing and Gaming to update Parliament on the findings of Racing and Wagering Western Australia's assessment of the racing industry's economic contribution and social impact. The Minister provides a detailed response highlighting the industry's significant economic and social contributions to the state.
AnsweredQoN 509Legislative Assembly
QuestionView source ↗
RACING INDUSTRY — ECONOMIC AND SOCIAL
IMPACT REPORT
509. Mr J.E. McGRATH to the Minister for Racing and Gaming:
As the minister knows, the racing
industry in Western Australia plays a critical role in providing social and
business opportunities not just in the metropolitan area, but also throughout
the state. I understand that the industry's governing body, Racing and
Wagering Western Australia, has released an assessment of the economic
contribution and social impact that the racing industry —
Mr
M.P. Murray interjected.
The
SPEAKER : Member for Collie–Preston, I am formally going to
call you to order for the first time today. We in this place do not interrupt a
member on his or her feet asking a question during question time.
Mr
J.E. McGRATH : As I said, this assessment of the economic contribution and
social impact that the racing industry has on our great state has been released
by Racing and Wagering Western Australia. Can the minister please update the
Parliament on the findings of that assessment?
IMPACT REPORT
509. Mr J.E. McGRATH to the Minister for Racing and Gaming:
As the minister knows, the racing
industry in Western Australia plays a critical role in providing social and
business opportunities not just in the metropolitan area, but also throughout
the state. I understand that the industry's governing body, Racing and
Wagering Western Australia, has released an assessment of the economic
contribution and social impact that the racing industry —
Mr
M.P. Murray interjected.
The
SPEAKER : Member for Collie–Preston, I am formally going to
call you to order for the first time today. We in this place do not interrupt a
member on his or her feet asking a question during question time.
Mr
J.E. McGRATH : As I said, this assessment of the economic contribution and
social impact that the racing industry has on our great state has been released
by Racing and Wagering Western Australia. Can the minister please update the
Parliament on the findings of that assessment?
AnswerView source ↗
It is a pleasure to update the house. I thank those who came
along last night. Unfortunately, members of Parliament are very busy and not
everyone could come along, so I want to make sure that they understand, because
this matter is very important. I thank the member for South Perth for the
question. The member for South Perth has a long history in the racing industry.
He has a great deal of knowledge, and he has certainly given me fantastic
advice and has been a great support to me during my four years in a role that I
have thoroughly enjoyed. I have always enjoyed going to the races, but there
was a lot of stuff about the industry that I did not know in depth. Since I
have been racing minister, I have come to understand what makes the industry
tick.
Mr M.P. Murray interjected.
Mr T.K. WALDRON :
Did the member enjoy it?
I realised how important the industry is to the economic
value of the state and to the social fabric of the state, but I probably did
not realise the full extent. The more I have done within the industry since I
have been involved in this area, the more I have recognised that. Knowing is
one thing, but actually having the measurement so that people really understand
is another. It is easy to say that this is great, but we really need something
to substantiate that. That is why last night we launched the ''Western
Australian Racing Industry Economic & Social Impact Report''. It
substantiates exactly what the industry does. It was commissioned by Racing and
Wagering Western Australia and was completed by leading independent consultant
and research firm IER Pty Ltd. It is a comprehensive report that breaks up the
key findings into individual state regions so that regional communities have a
snapshot of how the industry contributes to them, as well as to the
metropolitan area.
I will share a few of the findings. The report found that the
racing industry contributes around $600 million to the state's economy
and that about 48 per cent of the industry expenditure occurs in regional
areas, so it is about 50–50. More than 33 000 people either are
employed or directly participate in the racing industry. The industries
involved are very wide ranging, such as animal breeding, training, feed
merchants, transport companies, veterinary services, hospitality, fashion and,
of course, wagering. Collectively, employment equates to around 6 700 full-time
equivalents in jobs that earn over $350 million in household income, so the
industry is very important. It also provides a lot of young people with a start
to their life in employment; it gets them involved and from that they can build
a future. There are also 10 000 members of 55 race clubs in Western Australia,
and they are obviously supported by an army of volunteers. Like most things in
Western Australia, volunteers in the racing industry are extremely important. A
really interesting statistic that I think a lot of people would not realise is
that racing is the third highest attended sporting event in Western Australia
behind Australian Football League games and motor racing events. A lot of
people go to the three codes of racing. I think it confirms and underlines how
important this industry is to entertainment, tourism et cetera in Western
Australia. It is very popular. I have been very fortunate to work with many
good people in the racing industry. They are very passionate and they challenge,
which is good. I want to thank the people involved, because I think that
sometimes they underestimate the value of their contribution to the
communities. I thank them for their contribution. The report will be used to
enhance the industry's strategic planning and to help ensure the
sustainability of the industry going forward. For those members who did not
attend the launch last night, I have some copies of the highlights of the
economic and social impact report.
along last night. Unfortunately, members of Parliament are very busy and not
everyone could come along, so I want to make sure that they understand, because
this matter is very important. I thank the member for South Perth for the
question. The member for South Perth has a long history in the racing industry.
He has a great deal of knowledge, and he has certainly given me fantastic
advice and has been a great support to me during my four years in a role that I
have thoroughly enjoyed. I have always enjoyed going to the races, but there
was a lot of stuff about the industry that I did not know in depth. Since I
have been racing minister, I have come to understand what makes the industry
tick.
Mr M.P. Murray interjected.
Mr T.K. WALDRON :
Did the member enjoy it?
I realised how important the industry is to the economic
value of the state and to the social fabric of the state, but I probably did
not realise the full extent. The more I have done within the industry since I
have been involved in this area, the more I have recognised that. Knowing is
one thing, but actually having the measurement so that people really understand
is another. It is easy to say that this is great, but we really need something
to substantiate that. That is why last night we launched the ''Western
Australian Racing Industry Economic & Social Impact Report''. It
substantiates exactly what the industry does. It was commissioned by Racing and
Wagering Western Australia and was completed by leading independent consultant
and research firm IER Pty Ltd. It is a comprehensive report that breaks up the
key findings into individual state regions so that regional communities have a
snapshot of how the industry contributes to them, as well as to the
metropolitan area.
I will share a few of the findings. The report found that the
racing industry contributes around $600 million to the state's economy
and that about 48 per cent of the industry expenditure occurs in regional
areas, so it is about 50–50. More than 33 000 people either are
employed or directly participate in the racing industry. The industries
involved are very wide ranging, such as animal breeding, training, feed
merchants, transport companies, veterinary services, hospitality, fashion and,
of course, wagering. Collectively, employment equates to around 6 700 full-time
equivalents in jobs that earn over $350 million in household income, so the
industry is very important. It also provides a lot of young people with a start
to their life in employment; it gets them involved and from that they can build
a future. There are also 10 000 members of 55 race clubs in Western Australia,
and they are obviously supported by an army of volunteers. Like most things in
Western Australia, volunteers in the racing industry are extremely important. A
really interesting statistic that I think a lot of people would not realise is
that racing is the third highest attended sporting event in Western Australia
behind Australian Football League games and motor racing events. A lot of
people go to the three codes of racing. I think it confirms and underlines how
important this industry is to entertainment, tourism et cetera in Western
Australia. It is very popular. I have been very fortunate to work with many
good people in the racing industry. They are very passionate and they challenge,
which is good. I want to thank the people involved, because I think that
sometimes they underestimate the value of their contribution to the
communities. I thank them for their contribution. The report will be used to
enhance the industry's strategic planning and to help ensure the
sustainability of the industry going forward. For those members who did not
attend the launch last night, I have some copies of the highlights of the
economic and social impact report.
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