WA Politics/Racing

PICKING UP THE TAB 

Glenys Godfrey put the seat of Belmont in the news at the last WA state election.

Normally a safe Labor seat, the retirement of Eric Ripper (a former Deputy Premier, Treasurer and Opposition leader) was the impetus for change and the former Belmont City Council mayor won the seat for the Liberals at her third attempt.

The previous time the seat of Belmont, or Ascot as it sometimes has been called, was in the news was way back in 1971 when the then local member Merv Toms, the Speaker, died, early in the lifetime of the new Labor Government. The then Premier John Tonkin, who relied on the Speaker’s vote to govern, sought, and obtained from Governor Sir Douglas Kendrew, the proroguing of the Parliament, pending the by-election which Labor went on to win.

It might be thought that an appreciative Premier, now Colin Barnett, would be doing his best to help his giant killer retain her seat.

Instead he seems determined to cut the beanstalk down around her ears.

Mrs Godfrey is in the heart of racing country with Ascot racecourse an integral part of her electorate and with the winter track of Belmont about to be added to her electorate under a new electoral redistribution.

Not unnaturally she is not about to see her racing constituents future employment placed in jeopardy by the sale of TAB.

In fact it was the Brand Liberal Government (1959-71) that introduced the State Totalisator Agency Board, in 1961. It was implemented to ensure that Racing had a sustainable future as prior to that body being formed the stake money was deplorable with SP bookmakers contributing nothing to the enhancement of the industry.

Traditionally the Liberal Party although boasting free enterprise credentials has never been adverse to pragmatism and profitable state enterprises have never been anathema to the party’s principles…….until now it seems.

It has been mutually beneficial for Racing and the TAB as the industry depends on TAB funding and without Racing the TAB has no raison d’etre.

As Mrs Godfrey noted States that have done away with TABs have produced only disaster for their Racing industries -the third largest industry in Australia. “Racing Queensland is forecasting a $28 million black hole for the current financial year, following a $12 million loss on the previous year. Their deal with Tatts has been a fiasco,” she said.

“The Tasmanian Tote was even worse with an asset, valued in 2009  between $250-$300million but was subsequently sold off for $100million in 2011. That was patently ridiculous. It had been self-funded with Tote revenues until then but now Tasmanian Racing has a structural funding gap of $3-5million and a drop in prize money,” the Belmont member said.

Glenys Godfrey is similarly unmoved by arguments about ensuring racing is not worse off under a new privatised model.

“Their aim should be to make Racing better off, not the same, or why change from a system that is working?”

She said that the other states history had shown that the industry had been negatively impacted on and former Victorian Premier (and former Hawthorn FC president), Jeff Kennett, saying it was his worst decision.

Supporters of the TAB sale question why oppose something before benefits are known?

Precisely, for the reason that there are such meaningless platitudes about racing being no worse off when the evidence in other states gives lie to that fatuous claim. It is incumbent on proponents of change to detail the benefits of it before attacking those who argue ‘if it ain’t broke, don’t fix it.’ Far from being broke the TAB is flourishing.

The same proponents also query whether the government should even be in the business of gambling, ignoring the State’s involvement with Lotterywest?

John McGrath (Liberal, South Perth) said in the House “there is a lot of difference between Lotterywest and a betting and wagering agency?” Oh really, what? Both are State run and involve gambling.

This holier-than- thou approach is reminiscent of the Prohibition era in the US (1920-33). WA does not need another Wayne Bidwell Wheeler approach, leading to the imposition of greater problems, while embarking on some warped version of a moral crusade combined with deregulation gone mad.

 Mick Murray (ALP, Collie) also taunted the so-called country party, the Nationals, the junior coalition partner, for ignoring the social life of rural districts and he catalogued the impact racetrack closures would have on country towns.

His Labor leader, Mark McGowan, said that in the coming year there would be a 7.9 per cent increase to the racing industry and asked what other industry in WA is growing at that rate?

The Opposition leader said proceeds from the racing industry flowed to community organisations such as Riding for the Disabled, Royal Life Saving WA, the Paralympic Committee, Sea Rescue, Lifeline etc.

“Do members think the major corporates who own the TAB in the Eastern States will make such contributions? Does anyone think they do?”

Indeed the corporate bookies are as useful to Racing as the old down-the-lane SPs were in the bygone era.

As McGowan said they operate for shareholders whereas the WA model ensures the maximisation of profits to racing in WA.

The confused debate of September 16 was in the words of the Premier “an embarrassment.” It was, and particularly by an executive so clearly out of touch.

The Premier has already forfeited the State’s Triple A rating; has broken his promise of 2013 not to sell the TAB; treated with contempt the overwhelming majority of stakeholders and ignored his principled backbenchers, Glenys Godfrey, Murray Cowper and Graham Jacobs with their real concerns over the sale of the TAB.

WA and Racing deserve better.