ANIMAL WELFARE —
GREYHOUND RACING INDUSTRY
871. Hon ALISON XAMON to the minister representing the
Minister for Racing and Gaming:
I refer to the answer to my question
on notice 2886 on the distribution of TAB funds for animal welfare, and
specifically greyhound welfare, and to the response that this will be handled
through the minister's approval of Racing and Wagering Western Australia's
strategic development plan. Can the minister please advise the criteria that
will be used to approve or recommend changes to the strategic plan?
Hon ALANNAH MacTIERNAN
replied:
I thank the member for the question.
I note that this answer was provided on 8 September 2020, so it was current as
of that date. The following information was provided on that date by the
Minister for Racing and Gaming.
As the member is aware, given the
uncertainty surrounding the impacts of COVID-19, all parties have agreed to
re-engage in the TAB sale process at a later date, when the focus of government
and the industry is not so heavily weighted towards the COVID-19 response.
Therefore, RWWA is unable to incorporate any allocation of the sale funds in
its upcoming strategic development plan. Furthermore, the allocation of funding
for the industry is the responsibility of Racing and Wagering Western Australia
and the board, as an independent statutory authority with the responsibility to
foster the development of all three codes of racing.
The
McGowan government has given higher priority to animal welfare across all codes
of racing than any government in the state's history.
Furthermore, RWWA, with the McGowan government's support, recently
pursued several welfare initiatives across the three codes, including the
greyhound welfare working group, the ''Western Australian Racehorse
Welfare Plan'' and a further investment in the Greyhounds as Pets
program. I expect that RWWA and the WA racing industry will continue to invest
in and support these and other welfare initiatives in the future, as welfare is
an important priority for the longevity of the industry and the wellbeing of
animals participating in it.