❓ Mr. Murray questions the Minister about the potential privatisation of the TAB and whether the National Party would support it without guaranteed reinvestment of proceeds into the WA racing industry. The Minister's response avoids a direct answer, highlighting ongoing consultations with the racing industry and stating the government will only sell if it benefits the industry.
AnsweredQoN 501Legislative Assembly
QuestionView source ↗
TAB —
PRIVATISATION
501. Mr M.P. MURRAY to the
Minister for Racing and Gaming:
I refer to the state government's plan to privatise
the TAB.
(1) Will the minister privatise the TAB; and, if so, when?
(2) Will the
National Party support the privatisation of the TAB without a guarantee from
the Treasurer that all sale proceeds will be redirected back into the WA racing
industry and not used for other purposes?
PRIVATISATION
501. Mr M.P. MURRAY to the
Minister for Racing and Gaming:
I refer to the state government's plan to privatise
the TAB.
(1) Will the minister privatise the TAB; and, if so, when?
(2) Will the
National Party support the privatisation of the TAB without a guarantee from
the Treasurer that all sale proceeds will be redirected back into the WA racing
industry and not used for other purposes?
AnswerView source ↗
I thank the shadow Minister for Racing and Gaming for the
question.
(1)–(2)
I begin by acknowledging the former Minister for Racing and Gaming for the work
that he did with the industry.
Mr P.B. Watson interjected.
The SPEAKER :
Member for Albany, I call you to order for the second time.
Mr
B.J. GRYLLS : I acknowledge the work done by the former minister with the Western
Australian racing representative group to work their way through the issues
facing the Western Australian TAB. There is no doubt that there is enormous
pressure on the Western Australian TAB from the huge influx of new gambling
options that are available to people. Everyone understands that, and it is up
to the industry and the government to deal with that. The shadow Minister for
Racing and Gaming said that he does not support the sale of the TAB. The Leader
of the Opposition has said that he supports the industry's view on the
TAB. I understand that the industry understands the challenges and would like
to see the government progress to a sale. The industry has moved from concern
and worry, as it is right to do. It was concerned and worried about the circumstances
of the industry and how the government would protect it in the future. The good
work of Hon Colin Holt has taken that industry from a fear campaign led by the
opposition spokesperson to an understanding of the issues and is now asking the
government to rapidly progress its decision-making around the TAB. That has
left the shadow Minister for Racing and Gaming with a position that is actually
the opposite to that of the industry.
The government's position
has always been that we will not sell the TAB if it is not in the best
interests of racing in Western Australia. The former minister, and now me, have
and will work very, very closely with the representative group from the
industry to understand that. We will make our decision clear and we will make
it available to the industry. I do know that this has been a very good process
for the industry, which now understands the challenges that it faces and the
opportunities that the sale of the TAB may bring to it and it is asking the
government to make a decision. The opposition spokesperson says that we should
not sell the TAB, the Leader of the Opposition thinks that we should listen to
the industry and other members think we should not have a racing industry at
all because of animal welfare issues. The Liberal–National government
will continue to work closely with industry. I have a meeting with industry
representatives this week. If the racing industry tells me that it believes it
is in its best interests to sell the TAB, it will have my support to do just
that.
question.
(1)–(2)
I begin by acknowledging the former Minister for Racing and Gaming for the work
that he did with the industry.
Mr P.B. Watson interjected.
The SPEAKER :
Member for Albany, I call you to order for the second time.
Mr
B.J. GRYLLS : I acknowledge the work done by the former minister with the Western
Australian racing representative group to work their way through the issues
facing the Western Australian TAB. There is no doubt that there is enormous
pressure on the Western Australian TAB from the huge influx of new gambling
options that are available to people. Everyone understands that, and it is up
to the industry and the government to deal with that. The shadow Minister for
Racing and Gaming said that he does not support the sale of the TAB. The Leader
of the Opposition has said that he supports the industry's view on the
TAB. I understand that the industry understands the challenges and would like
to see the government progress to a sale. The industry has moved from concern
and worry, as it is right to do. It was concerned and worried about the circumstances
of the industry and how the government would protect it in the future. The good
work of Hon Colin Holt has taken that industry from a fear campaign led by the
opposition spokesperson to an understanding of the issues and is now asking the
government to rapidly progress its decision-making around the TAB. That has
left the shadow Minister for Racing and Gaming with a position that is actually
the opposite to that of the industry.
The government's position
has always been that we will not sell the TAB if it is not in the best
interests of racing in Western Australia. The former minister, and now me, have
and will work very, very closely with the representative group from the
industry to understand that. We will make our decision clear and we will make
it available to the industry. I do know that this has been a very good process
for the industry, which now understands the challenges that it faces and the
opportunities that the sale of the TAB may bring to it and it is asking the
government to make a decision. The opposition spokesperson says that we should
not sell the TAB, the Leader of the Opposition thinks that we should listen to
the industry and other members think we should not have a racing industry at
all because of animal welfare issues. The Liberal–National government
will continue to work closely with industry. I have a meeting with industry
representatives this week. If the racing industry tells me that it believes it
is in its best interests to sell the TAB, it will have my support to do just
that.
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