TAB sale could fetch $1b: WA premier

Selling off the TAB could put up to $1 billion in Western Australia's coffers, the premier has told parliament.

The sale of the government-owned betting agency has been flagged previously but on Wednesday Colin Barnett confirmed it had not been discussed in cabinet.

Mr Barnett said the racing industry was struggling and the TAB could fetch up to $1 billion.

But progress to privatise the agency would not happen this year.

In December 2013, former treasurer Troy Buswell revealed the Liberal government was looking at the possibility of selling the TAB, just three months after the premier publicly ruled it out.

Mr Barnett reiterated in parliament on Wednesday that it wasn't appropriate for a government to own a betting agency.