Four years after the sale of Western Australia's state-owned betting agency was first proposed, racing industry figures are desperately hoping there will soon be certainty around the fate of the TAB.
Years of lingering uncertainty about the possible sale of the TAB have damaged confidence in the racing industry, prominent figures have repeatedly warned, as they called for a speedy resolution to a protracted debate.
At one point, doubt over whether the TAB would be sold was described by a prominent racing figure as "a noose hanging over the industry's neck."
"I'd dare say it was an uncomfortable neck tie in many ways and people definitely would have liked a bit more room to breathe," WA Racing Representative Group executive officer David Simonetti said.
But the racing sector — and the public more broadly — are no clearer as to whether the TAB will remain in public hands, long after the former Barnett government put the proposal on the table in 2014.
Treasurer Ben Wyatt, who inherited the issue after last year's election, conceded the situation has been left unresolved for far too long.
"There is uncertainty on the TAB end, there is uncertainty on the government end, we just need to make a decision," Mr Wyatt said.
"I would like a decision on that around budget time [in May]."
Potential TAB sale price slips
The decision is particularly important for the racing industry, which has a heavy reliance on gambling revenue as a funding source.
According to some in the industry, the uncertainty has had a big impact — harming confidence and reducing investment.
"There is no certainty about the industry going forward and how we will wind up financially," WA Racing Trainers' Association president Trevor Andrews said.
"It doesn't give people any confidence to get involved in the industry."
Another prominent racing industry figure, who asked not to be named, warned the impact of years of uncertainty had been enormous.
"It has turned into a dog's breakfast," they said.
"The industry is in a bad way at the moment and this has been allowed to drag on for too long."
Mr Simonetti was pleased by the Treasurer's indication that a final decision on whether to sell the TAB would come soon, but cautioned the industry had heard similar pledges before.
"It has been a question on the lips of the industry for a number of years now," Mr Simonetti said.
"I think it did result in a decrease in confidence for the industry."
Mr Simonetti said opinions differed in the racing industry as to whether the TAB should be sold, but the prevailing view was an openness to privatisation so long as the industry was not left worse off.
Mr Wyatt conceded the TAB's potential sale price had declined since the privatisation was first proposed.
"Are there sufficient buyers to create competitive tension? That I can't yet answer," Mr Wyatt said.
"It is not a fiscal repair decision as such … it is really a decision over where is the TAB best placed to do what it does."
