No other state or territory TAB was in the running for the Vitab deal at the time negotiations were taking place with the ACTTAB, despite statements by the Minister for Sport, Wayne Berry, and TAB officials suggesting the deal was won in tight competition.
Mr Berry made much of the ACT TAB winning a deal with Vitab against heavy competition from the other Australian TABs and that the ACT had beaten the competition to the great deal.
The fact is that Vitab did not even approach any other TAB but Queensland (another Labor state) and that Queensland was prevented by statute from off-shore contracts.
Mr Berry told the Assembly on November 23, 1993, “”Many other governments would love to have got their hands on this one. What we need to do was to ensure that it was in the interests of the Territory, that it was safe and secure.”
He said in a ministerial statement prepared in November, 1993: “”ACTTAB competed against several other interstate TABs to provide the necessary computer facilities and operation support to Vitab and was chosen as the preferred provider.”
He said in a speech at ACT TAB headquarters on November 8, 1993: “”Vitab Ltd has . . . been in negotiations with a number of Australian TABs to provide the necessary computer technology and operational support.”
However, the general manager of the NSW TAB, Allen (correct) Windross has advised: “”I am unable to locate or recall any record of an approach by Vitab Limited to NSW TAB during 1993 or earlier.”
The general manger of the Western Australian TAB advises: “”According to our records, no approach was made to the WATAB by Vitab Limited, and no proposals were requested or submitted.”
His Northern Territory counterpart, Bob Douglas, says, “”The Northern Territory TAB was not approached by Vitab to submit a business proposal to provide computer support for access into an Australian betting pool”.
The Tasmanian TAB general manager, Mr A. J. Morse, says, “”I advise that the Tasmanian TAB was not approached by Vitab.”
I understand that no approach was made to South Australian either, but I have not got it in writing.
Queensland says it was approached by Vitab but, “”due to legislative restraints on the Queensland TAB, we were not in a position to consider off-shore links with other organisations, and the representatives of Vitab were advised accordingly.
Victoria pulled the pin on the ACT because of the Vitab deal, according to its Minister for Sport, Murray (check given name) Reynolds.
Some competition for the Vitab deal.
In fact, the ACT signed a confidence deal with Vitab in mid-1993 that precluded it checking with other TABs.
In a submission from the chief executive of the ACT TAB, Philip Neck, to Mr Berry, Mr Neck, in July 1993 Mr Neck wrote, “”Vitab has decided that it considers ACTTAB to be the preferred TAB to provide the necessary support.”
In fact, it was the only one.
Mr Berry’s November statement said, “”This agreement is a major coup for the ACT TAB and the ACT.”
The ACT won a one-horse race.