TAB — SALE
506. Hon JACQUI BOYDELL to the minister representing the
Treasurer:
I ask this question on behalf of Hon
Colin Holt, who is absent due to urgent parliamentary business.
I refer to the sale of the Western Australian
TAB.
(1) Can the Treasurer please give an
update on the current status of the sale process?
(2) When will there be an
announcement of the successful acquirer?
(3) How has the expected sale price of the WA TAB
changed due to revenues decreasing during COVID-19?
(4) Has the
fixed-odds betting component of the WA TAB been put out to tender; and, if yes,
why has this happened during the sales process?
Hon
STEPHEN DAWSON replied:
I
thank Hon Colin Holt for some notice
of the question. The following answer has been provided to me by the Treasurer.
(1) The TAB sale
process has been paused to allow the government, Racing and Wagering Western Australia
and bidders to focus on business continuity and post-COVID-19 recovery
measures.
(2) The time
frame for the resumption and ultimate completion of the sale process will
depend on a number of factors, including the stabilisation of business activity
following the easing of COVID-19 restrictions.
(3) The impacts
of COVID-19 have been felt sector-wide. The consequential impacts on the value
of the WA TAB business will largely be
determined by the pace and nature of the market recovery following the
easing of restrictions.
(4) Yes. During
the COVID-19 shutdown, there have been seismic shifts in the wagering market,
including the merger of BetEasy and
Sportsbet, which RWWA will assess and respond to with the long-term interests
of the local racing industry in mind.