The TBWA Thoroughbred Forum at the Sebel Mandurah Hotel has addressed several challenges confronting the local industry in Western Australia.
TBWA President Troy van Heemst focused on (1) Workforce Education & Training and (2) Industry under threat from outdated Government Policy for an audience that included prominent WA Breeders as well as TBA CEO Andrew Hore-Lacy.
“Our workforce warrants better training. Benefits from a highly skilled workforce are deep and multi-faceted. Primarily, outcomes from a safer workplace result include higher productivity, lower insurance premiums and improved retention of skilled people.
“We are achieving progress in this space but we need industry engagement to make further advancements. The State Government is reviewing the governance and sustainability of the WA Racing and Breeding Industry and we have grave concerns due to the perceived lack of vigour being displayed during this review process,” van Heemst (pictured) said.
“There is cause for concern that our government does not value the Breeding industry, are content to see the Racing Industry decline, and that this review has a predetermined outcome. Lobbying to the Minister on your behalf is made stronger with industry support and engagement.
“Importantly, there is no one else that will champion our industry for us. We need to stand together and show that we care.
“The WA State Government collected $132 million in Betting Taxes in FY25 and provided $39.7 million to RWWA. The resulting net tax receipts for the State Government were $93 million.
“This compares to the $27 million in net tax receipts in FY18, the last full financial year prior to the introduction of the point of consumption (POC) Tax.
“The State Government is $66 million better off today than only seven years ago. Changing wagering revenue streams since 2009 have resulted in the racing and breeding industries being considerably poorer.
“The industry is left vulnerable after years of unsustainably heavy taxation placed on wagering revenue generated by WA Racing. Government policy in this space is outdated and urgently requires a correction.
“This is exactly the case we, as the industry, are making to the Government. Our industry is capable of sustaining itself, we don’t need a hand-out…we just need to be treated fairly.”
