Greens (WA) amend Racing and Wagering Bill to enable better transition and scrutiny.

June 12, 2003 - The Bill that was amended in the Legislative Council today is designed to merge the principal club functions of the Western Australian Turf Club, the Western Australian Trotting Association and the Western Australian Greyhound Racing Authority, together with the offcourse betting activities of the Totalisator Agency Board, into a single controlling authority to be known as Racing and Wagering Western Australia (RWWA).

There had been concerns held by the Racing Industry that the transition period for the current structural allocation of funds under RWWA was too quick. To this end the Greens (WA) were successful in extending the transition period by a further year from 2005 to 2006.

The Greens (WA) also managed to put in place a more open review structure.

Instead of the Minister doing an in-house review after 5 years of operation, the 5 year review of RWWA will now be carried out by a Joint Standing Committee of Parliament.

'The Committee review of Racing and Wagering Western Australia will enable a much broader industry and community role in assessing the initial operation of the RWWA Act,' said Mr Chapple.

'My personal preference was for the retention of the current structural allocation of funds until the review period in 2008, but I am happy with the new transition period of three years'.