“Throwing a large amount of money at a small number of people is not a sensible use of taxpayers’ funds”….

…..according to the Honourable Amber-Jade Sanderson MLA, Minister for Energy and Decarbonisation; Manufacturing; Skills and TAFE; Pilbara, in her interview on ABC Perth on 4 June 2025.

The Minister was responding to criticism of recent amendments to the State Government’s WA Residential Battery Scheme, which were revised to extend rebates to a larger number of households. Under the original scheme, between 20,000 and 30,000 applicants were eligible to receive rebates ranging from $5,000 to $7,500. Following the election, the scheme was amended to support up to 100,000 applicants, with reduced rebates of $1,300 to $3,800 per household.

In defending these changes, Minister Amber-Jade Sanderson stated, “Throwing a large amount of money at a small number of people is not a sensible use of taxpayers’ funds.” Free The Hounds agrees with this principle but, on that basis, questions the State Government’s continued investment in greyhound racing—an industry that benefits a very small group of individuals at considerable public expense.

According to the Western Australian Greyhound Racing Association’s (WAGRA) 2023–24 Annual Report, the WA Government allocated $33,440,174 to greyhound racing in the last financial year. Australian Tax Office data shows there are only 54 registered business owners, trainers, and breeders in the State, alongside 29 permanent racetrack staff. All other participants are casual staff or hobbyists. Applying Minister Sanderson’s own logic, Free The Hounds asks: how does the State Government justify spending over $33 million—more than $40,000 per person—on just 83 individuals?

It is also worth noting that prior to the Labor Government’s election in 2017, WAGRA’s 2015–16 Annual Report indicated $4,615,498 in government funding. Since then, this amount has skyrocketed by 625%, reaching over $33 million.

Why is your government choosing to spend your funds in this way?