❓ Mr. Murray questions the Minister for Racing and Gaming about the potential privatisation of the TAB, following previous commitments against it. The Minister reiterates his stance against privatisation unless it benefits the racing industry, but acknowledges the government may consider it.
AnsweredQoN 172Legislative Assembly
QuestionView source ↗
TAB — PRIVATISATION
172. Mr M.P. MURRAY to the Minister for
Racing and Gaming:
Before I ask my question, I would
like to welcome students and teachers from Fairview Primary School who are in
the public gallery—it is one of the best schools in Australia, without
doubt!
I refer to the minister's
commitments to the house on 20 February that the government's position
is that the TAB will not be sold.
(1) Is that still the government's position?
(2) Has the
minister been advised that under the report on privatisation given to the
Premier, it is now up for sale?
172. Mr M.P. MURRAY to the Minister for
Racing and Gaming:
Before I ask my question, I would
like to welcome students and teachers from Fairview Primary School who are in
the public gallery—it is one of the best schools in Australia, without
doubt!
I refer to the minister's
commitments to the house on 20 February that the government's position
is that the TAB will not be sold.
(1) Is that still the government's position?
(2) Has the
minister been advised that under the report on privatisation given to the
Premier, it is now up for sale?
AnswerView source ↗
I thank the member for the question—I
think I already answered it when he asked me last time.
(1)–(2) I
am on the record as saying that as the minister I would only ever consider the
privatisation of the TAB if it was in the best interests of the racing
industry. Obviously the government will look at everything, and if it wants to
privatise certain parts, it will sell certain things.
Several members interjected.
Mr
T.K. WALDRON : I said ''if our government'', which I am part
of, will look at that. I do not expect the TAB to be one of those; however, I
have spoken with Racing and Wagering Western Australia —
Several members interjected.
Mr
T.K. WALDRON : I actually have ongoing discussions with Racing and Wagering
WA, which represents the industry. If RWWA thought it was in the best
interests, it would come to me and tell me that. I do not think it is in the
best interests of the racing industry—in fact, I do not think it is in
the best interests of the state—to privatise the TAB at this stage.
That is what I have said, and that is my position. Obviously, as time goes on,
governments of the future can always reconsider —
Mr
D.J. Kelly interjected.
The
SPEAKER : Member for Bassendean, I call you to order for the first time.
Mr
T.K. WALDRON : The one point I will make about the TAB is that WA is the
only state to have our TAB linked with our racing industry through Racing and
Wagering WA. It is a system that works really well; it is operating better than
the equivalents in all other states. When I go to racing ministers'
meetings, many other states would like to be us because the TAB sustains our
industry. The TAB is performing very well, and I do not support its
privatisation.
Several members interjected.
The
SPEAKER : Members!
Mr
T.K. WALDRON : As I said, RWWA has given me an undertaking as minister that
if it felt at the time that privatisation was in the best interests of the
racing industry, it would let me know that. I do not think it is in the best
interests of the racing industry at this time; therefore, I do not see it being
privatised at this stage.
think I already answered it when he asked me last time.
(1)–(2) I
am on the record as saying that as the minister I would only ever consider the
privatisation of the TAB if it was in the best interests of the racing
industry. Obviously the government will look at everything, and if it wants to
privatise certain parts, it will sell certain things.
Several members interjected.
Mr
T.K. WALDRON : I said ''if our government'', which I am part
of, will look at that. I do not expect the TAB to be one of those; however, I
have spoken with Racing and Wagering Western Australia —
Several members interjected.
Mr
T.K. WALDRON : I actually have ongoing discussions with Racing and Wagering
WA, which represents the industry. If RWWA thought it was in the best
interests, it would come to me and tell me that. I do not think it is in the
best interests of the racing industry—in fact, I do not think it is in
the best interests of the state—to privatise the TAB at this stage.
That is what I have said, and that is my position. Obviously, as time goes on,
governments of the future can always reconsider —
Mr
D.J. Kelly interjected.
The
SPEAKER : Member for Bassendean, I call you to order for the first time.
Mr
T.K. WALDRON : The one point I will make about the TAB is that WA is the
only state to have our TAB linked with our racing industry through Racing and
Wagering WA. It is a system that works really well; it is operating better than
the equivalents in all other states. When I go to racing ministers'
meetings, many other states would like to be us because the TAB sustains our
industry. The TAB is performing very well, and I do not support its
privatisation.
Several members interjected.
The
SPEAKER : Members!
Mr
T.K. WALDRON : As I said, RWWA has given me an undertaking as minister that
if it felt at the time that privatisation was in the best interests of the
racing industry, it would let me know that. I do not think it is in the best
interests of the racing industry at this time; therefore, I do not see it being
privatised at this stage.
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.