GAMBLING AND RACING MINISTRIES

The Hon. T.J. STEPHENS (14:59): I seek leave to make a brief explanation before asking the Leader of the Government, representing the Premier, questions regarding the omission of the gambling and racing ministries from the cabinet.

Leave granted.

The Hon. T.J. STEPHENS: The Leader of the Government would be aware that the Premier has failed to reappoint a minister for gambling and a minister for racing following his appointment and subsequent cabinet reshuffle. As a former gambling minister, the Leader of the Government will know how important that portfolio is. It requires a chief spokesperson on behalf of the government, as well as the full authority of the minister, in order to coordinate and implement policy.

At his maiden press conference, the Premier confirmed that the gambling ministry would be handled by the several ministers who have responsibility over the many government agencies that now cover gambling. On top of this, the Premier has also culled the racing ministry from the traditional ministerial title of recreation, sport and racing. The racing industry has always been thought of as important enough to warrant its inclusion as a ministerial portfolio by previous governments and currently by this side of the house. The Premier and those opposite obviously feel differently.

After all, this is the fourth-largest industry in the state. It employs 3,250 full-time workers and 21,000 part-time workers, and it is worth $275 million to the state economy. My questions to the Leader of the Government are:

1. Which ministers have responsibility for gambling and racing at COAG and other national conferences and meetings?

2. Does the Premier feel it appropriate sending a minister without specific responsibility to a gambling conference or a COAG meeting?

3. Is it efficient to have several ministers with oversight of gambling policy?

4. Why doesn't the Premier think the racing industry is worthy of a ministerial representative?

5. What has changed in the government's thoughts towards the racing industry, given that there has been a minister for racing in every government since World War II?

The Hon. G.E. GAGO (Minister for Agriculture, Food and Fisheries, Minister for Forests, Minister for Regional Development, Minister for Tourism, Minister for the Status of Women) (15:01): I understand that the policy areas of gambling and racing have been integrated throughout a whole-of-government approach, so it is not indicative of a lack of commitment or interest in those areas. We still have the commissioners, who have responsibility for those areas, in those places, and we still have agency members there to support their work and activities.

I think there are a number of ministers who have various responsibilities. For instance, I know, in respect to gambling, there was always a large overlap there and Treasury had responsibility for a significant component of that. As I said, my understanding is that it has been incorporated into a whole-of-government approach and does not reflect in any way a lack of commitment of this government to those very important policy areas.

The PRESIDENT: The Hon. Mr Stephens has a supplementary.