MP will protest vote TAB sale

Murray-Wellington MLA Murray Cowper has vowed to oppose the sale of the WA TAB "down to the last man".

Mr Cowper last week crossed the floor in State Parliament to vote against his Liberal party colleagues on the motion that "the State Government only supports the sale of the TAB if there is a guaranteed ongoing benefit for the racing industry and local communities throughout WA."

He was one of three Government MPs - including Eyre MLA Dr Graham Jacobs and Belmont MLA Glenys Godfrey - to vote against the successful motion.

He told the Bunbury Herald many of his constituents were involved in the racing industry and would be hurt by the sale of the government-owned TAB.

"From my perspective, and of my colleagues, we are here to represent the people who voted us in," Mr Cowper said.

"We will fight the sale of the TAB root, stock and branch - right down to the last man.

"The issue is the TAB should not be sold."

The Labor party's racing and gaming spokesman Mick Murray slammed the WA Nationals for not having "the courage" to vote against the motion.

"Selling off the TAB will mean country towns will suffer as the racing industry will no longer be supported," Mr Murray said.

The State Government has flagged selling the TAB as part of wide range of public asset sales in a bid to reduce debt.

A spokeswoman for Racing and Gaming Minister Colin Holt said he respected the right of MPs to reflect the concerns of their constituents and that "no decision has been made yet on the sale of the TAB".