❓ A WA parliamentary question scrutinizes VenuesWest's 2024-25 Annual Report, focusing on salary expenses, patronage, wage increases, the Asset Investment Plan review, and the profitability of programs and services. The Minister's answers provide explanations for the variances and clarify the measurement of benefit to the state.
AnsweredQoN 970Legislative Assembly
QuestionView source ↗
I refer to the VenuesWest Annual Report 2024-25, and I ask: (a) Why was the salary expense limit exceeded by 29%; (b) Can the Minister explain "increased activity", while the level of patronage target was not met; (c) What were the targeted wage increases; (d) What were the actual wage increases; (e) When is the three-yearly review of the Asset Investment Plan expected to be completed; (f) Will the three-yearly review of the Asset Investment Plan be publicly released; and (g) With reference to KPI 6: Commercial expense ratio: (i) Which programs and services yield profitable returns for the organisation; (ii) Which programs and services do not yield profitable returns for the organisation; and (iii) How is "maximum benefit to the state" measured?
AnswerView source ↗
Answered
2 December 2025
Responded by
Minister for Sport and Recreation
Response time
7 days
a) Due to the public sector wage settlement, additional staff for unbudgeted events, a change in catering arrangements, and administrative changes for RAC Arena and Optus Stadium.
b) Increased activity refers to the attraction of unplanned events that were not known during the budget process. Patronage is a broader measure for customer attendance across the portfolio.
c) Targeted wage increases included public sector wage awards and private sector wage costs for RAC Arena and Optus Stadium.
d) Actual wage increases were settlements for the public sector award increases and private sector increases separately negotiated for RAC Arena and Optus Stadium.
e) The review will be completed by the end of 2025
f) The Asset Investment Plan status is reported in the Annual Report.\
g)
i.) Venues with the capability to host sports events and concerts
ii.) Venues that provide community benefit and/or support high performance sport
iii.) KPI 6 is the measure used to determine benefit to the state
b) Increased activity refers to the attraction of unplanned events that were not known during the budget process. Patronage is a broader measure for customer attendance across the portfolio.
c) Targeted wage increases included public sector wage awards and private sector wage costs for RAC Arena and Optus Stadium.
d) Actual wage increases were settlements for the public sector award increases and private sector increases separately negotiated for RAC Arena and Optus Stadium.
e) The review will be completed by the end of 2025
f) The Asset Investment Plan status is reported in the Annual Report.\
g)
i.) Venues with the capability to host sports events and concerts
ii.) Venues that provide community benefit and/or support high performance sport
iii.) KPI 6 is the measure used to determine benefit to the state
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