❓ Mr. McGrath questions the Premier on an alleged policy backflip regarding the TAB sale and Trackside gambling, referencing an article in The West Australian. The Premier deflects, questioning McGrath's own past positions and defending the government's intentions for the racing industry.
AnsweredQoN 776Legislative Assembly
QuestionView source ↗
TAB —
PRIVATISATION — TRACKSIDE
776. Mr J.E. McGRATH to the Premier:
I refer to the very insightful
analysis by Gary Adshead in today's The West Australian , which
clearly articulates —
Several members interjected.
The SPEAKER : Members! Start
again. I liked that first bit.
Mr J.E. McGRATH : I refer to
the insightful analysis by Gary Adshead in today's The West Australian ,
which clearly articulates the transient history of the Premier's
position on the TAB sale and Trackside gambling. Will the Premier now confirm
that his position on the TAB sale and Trackside is one of the biggest backflips
in the history of the Western Australian Parliament, or is he happy to keep
demonstrating that he cannot be trusted on this issue?
PRIVATISATION — TRACKSIDE
776. Mr J.E. McGRATH to the Premier:
I refer to the very insightful
analysis by Gary Adshead in today's The West Australian , which
clearly articulates —
Several members interjected.
The SPEAKER : Members! Start
again. I liked that first bit.
Mr J.E. McGRATH : I refer to
the insightful analysis by Gary Adshead in today's The West Australian ,
which clearly articulates the transient history of the Premier's
position on the TAB sale and Trackside gambling. Will the Premier now confirm
that his position on the TAB sale and Trackside is one of the biggest backflips
in the history of the Western Australian Parliament, or is he happy to keep
demonstrating that he cannot be trusted on this issue?
AnswerView source ↗
My goodness! I have seen sucking up
before, but this is incredible!
I do read The West Australian .
I read the article and I suspect the member for South Perth read it, but he
might have to explain it to the Leader of the Opposition because he does not
read The West Australian . I saw that analysis and I will let people make
their own judgement on Gary's columns, but I have always found him to
be a good journalist. It is not easy to be in journalism these days. Far fewer
people are in journalism and there is a lot more work to be done. Journalism is
not what it was 22 years ago when I started in Parliament. When the member for
South Perth was in the newsroom at The West 40 years ago or 50 years
ago, I suspect it was pretty easy back then. He used to go to work and then he
would go to that pub over the road that all the journalists would retire to.
What was it called?
Mr J.E. McGrath : The Palace.
Mr M. McGOWAN : The Palace! He
would retire there at lunchtime—a day's work done! That was
back in the member for South Perth's day.
If we are going to talk about
history, I recall that when I was the Minister for Racing and Gaming in 2005–06
I came up with a nickname for the member for South Perth. It was based on a horse
that was famous at the time called Takeover Target, because there was always
talk about the member for South Perth's preselection—as there
is today! Some things never change.
Mrs L.M. Harvey : Just answer
the question about the TAB!
Mr M. McGOWAN : Where is your
sense of humour? You have no sense of humour.
I remember back then when I was
jousting in here with ''Takeover Target'', otherwise known as the
member for South Perth, that he was in favour of the TAB remaining in public
ownership. He said it on a range of occasions and if I can be bothered, I will
get someone to do the research. When the member comes in here claiming that
people change position on issues, maybe he should have a look at his own Hansard and his own record of his time in this Parliament. All I will say to the member
for South Perth, who I have considerable respect for—he is a decent man
and a decent person—is that we are trying to do the right thing by the
racing industry in Western Australia, which employs 30 000 of our citizens
across the state. Many are full time and probably a few more are part time. It
provides much enjoyment and activity for hundreds of thousands of our citizens.
We are trying to do the right thing by those people, those regional clubs,
those city clubs, the people in the greyhound industry and the people in the
pacing industry. We are trying to do the right thing by all those people. That
is what this package is about. The opposition can score whatever points it
wants along the way. All I want to do is to make sure that taxpayers get a fair
return and that we keep that industry strong.
before, but this is incredible!
I do read The West Australian .
I read the article and I suspect the member for South Perth read it, but he
might have to explain it to the Leader of the Opposition because he does not
read The West Australian . I saw that analysis and I will let people make
their own judgement on Gary's columns, but I have always found him to
be a good journalist. It is not easy to be in journalism these days. Far fewer
people are in journalism and there is a lot more work to be done. Journalism is
not what it was 22 years ago when I started in Parliament. When the member for
South Perth was in the newsroom at The West 40 years ago or 50 years
ago, I suspect it was pretty easy back then. He used to go to work and then he
would go to that pub over the road that all the journalists would retire to.
What was it called?
Mr J.E. McGrath : The Palace.
Mr M. McGOWAN : The Palace! He
would retire there at lunchtime—a day's work done! That was
back in the member for South Perth's day.
If we are going to talk about
history, I recall that when I was the Minister for Racing and Gaming in 2005–06
I came up with a nickname for the member for South Perth. It was based on a horse
that was famous at the time called Takeover Target, because there was always
talk about the member for South Perth's preselection—as there
is today! Some things never change.
Mrs L.M. Harvey : Just answer
the question about the TAB!
Mr M. McGOWAN : Where is your
sense of humour? You have no sense of humour.
I remember back then when I was
jousting in here with ''Takeover Target'', otherwise known as the
member for South Perth, that he was in favour of the TAB remaining in public
ownership. He said it on a range of occasions and if I can be bothered, I will
get someone to do the research. When the member comes in here claiming that
people change position on issues, maybe he should have a look at his own Hansard and his own record of his time in this Parliament. All I will say to the member
for South Perth, who I have considerable respect for—he is a decent man
and a decent person—is that we are trying to do the right thing by the
racing industry in Western Australia, which employs 30 000 of our citizens
across the state. Many are full time and probably a few more are part time. It
provides much enjoyment and activity for hundreds of thousands of our citizens.
We are trying to do the right thing by those people, those regional clubs,
those city clubs, the people in the greyhound industry and the people in the
pacing industry. We are trying to do the right thing by all those people. That
is what this package is about. The opposition can score whatever points it
wants along the way. All I want to do is to make sure that taxpayers get a fair
return and that we keep that industry strong.
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