❓ Opposition Leader questions the Minister for Racing and Gaming regarding the potential privatisation of the TAB, given conflicting statements from the Minister and the Premier. The Minister reiterates their stance that privatisation would only be considered if in the best interests of the racing industry and community, but acknowledges the state's financial position as a factor.
AnsweredQoN 313Legislative Assembly
QuestionView source ↗
TAB —
PRIVATISATION
313. Mr M. McGOWAN to the
Minister for Racing and Gaming:
I refer to the minister's commitment not to privatise
the TAB, made numerous times in this house. I further refer to the Premier's
comment moments ago that he does not know why government is owning a betting
agency. Will the TAB be privatised or will it not?
PRIVATISATION
313. Mr M. McGOWAN to the
Minister for Racing and Gaming:
I refer to the minister's commitment not to privatise
the TAB, made numerous times in this house. I further refer to the Premier's
comment moments ago that he does not know why government is owning a betting
agency. Will the TAB be privatised or will it not?
AnswerView source ↗
Leader of the Opposition, I am on the record a number of
times as saying—I have written it down here—that I would
support the privatisation of the Western Australian TAB only if it was in the
best interests of the racing industry and the wider community to do so; and I
stand by that. I personally as the minister do not think it is in the best
interests to do so at this stage. My role as racing and gaming minister is to
strongly support a growing racing industry in Western Australia. I think that
is going well at this time. Obviously, the issue of the state's
financial position is something that government has to deal with, and any
decisions about government assets must be made in that context. I am the
Minister for Racing and Gaming. The Premier and I have met with Racing and
Wagering Western Australia, and RWWA has said to me that if it felt it was in
the best interests, it would advise us of that. I do not think it is in the
best interests at this moment, but as times change down the track, it may well
be; and if it is in the best interests, we will obviously consider it. But at
the end of the day, we also have to take into account the state's
financial position. That is what I have always said.
times as saying—I have written it down here—that I would
support the privatisation of the Western Australian TAB only if it was in the
best interests of the racing industry and the wider community to do so; and I
stand by that. I personally as the minister do not think it is in the best
interests to do so at this stage. My role as racing and gaming minister is to
strongly support a growing racing industry in Western Australia. I think that
is going well at this time. Obviously, the issue of the state's
financial position is something that government has to deal with, and any
decisions about government assets must be made in that context. I am the
Minister for Racing and Gaming. The Premier and I have met with Racing and
Wagering Western Australia, and RWWA has said to me that if it felt it was in
the best interests, it would advise us of that. I do not think it is in the
best interests at this moment, but as times change down the track, it may well
be; and if it is in the best interests, we will obviously consider it. But at
the end of the day, we also have to take into account the state's
financial position. That is what I have always said.
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