The Western Australian Government has definitively closed the door on privatising the state-owned betting agency, WA TAB, as it launches a major review into the financial sustainability of the racing industry.
Review launched amid mounting financial pressure
Racing Minister Paul Papalia announced the probe on Tuesday, December 30, 2025, appointing former Labor arts minister David Templeman to lead it. The review will assess the financial futures of thoroughbred, harness, and greyhound racing in the state.
This move comes after the government's Racing and Wagering WA (RWWA) department recorded significant losses. RWWA posted $93 million in losses over the past three financial years, creating intense pressure for a structural shake-up.
A government spokesman explicitly stated that selling the TAB is not an option. "The review is focused on exploring options to ensure a financially sustainable racing industry in WA," he said. "Privatisation of the WA TAB will not be a consideration of the review."
A billion-dollar idea shelved again
The decision marks at least the third time in recent years that a potential sale of the betting agency has been cancelled. Privatisation had been periodically considered since 2014, with earlier estimates suggesting a deal could have raised around $1 billion to help reduce state debt.
However, the agency's perceived market value is believed to have fallen considerably since those earlier assessments. Shadow racing minister Lachlan Hunter expressed concern that the TAB's financial position was deteriorating and its operating costs were rising, issues he attributed to government policy.
Industry backs review amid changing landscape
Perth Racing chief executive James Oldring welcomed the review, noting that wagering revenue had declined in recent years following a boom during the COVID-19 pandemic. He warned of looming major infrastructure investment needs for a sport still governed by legislation enacted in 2003.
"The landscape has changed almost unrecognisably," Mr Oldring said, while expressing optimism about a "renaissance" in track attendance. He argued the review should examine the distribution of the state's point of consumption betting tax, introduced in 2019 to combat online bookmakers. Currently, only about 30 per cent of this tax revenue flows back to the racing sector, a lower share than in other jurisdictions.
Minister Papalia emphasised the industry's economic role, stating it "sustains thousands of local jobs." His goal is to ensure "the long-term financial stability, viability, and integrity of racing in our State."
The Templeman review will not examine animal or jockey welfare matters. A separate Legislative Council inquiry into greyhound welfare, which began in September 2025 and received over 5,000 submissions, is continuing independently.
