By GEORGIA WESTGARTH
CRANBOURNE’S greyhound racing industry is set to be flooded with jilted trainers and dogs as the nation takes in the New South Wales Government’s shock decision to ban the sport.
The NSW greyhound racing industry will be shut down by 1 July next year following the government’s decision, in the wake of the findings of a Special Commission of Inquiry into the Greyhound Racing Industry.
The move comes after ABC’s Four Corners program last year aired damning footage of piglets, possums and rabbits being strapped to lures and ripped apart while they are used as live-bait to blood greyhounds at the Tooradin track.
Shortly after the NSW announcement, the ACT announced that it would also move to ban the sport in Australia’s capital.
The NSW government’s decision, announced on Thursday 7 July, is based on the inquiry – which found overwhelming evidence of systemic animal cruelty, including mass greyhound killings and live baiting.
Premier Mike Baird and Deputy Premier and Minister for Racing Troy Grant announced that their government was acting to protect animal welfare as a priority, and is planning for an orderly industry shutdown.
The pair released the inquiry report which found that between 48,000 and 68,000 greyhounds – or at least half of all greyhounds bred to race – were killed in the past 12 years because they were deemed uncompetitive.
The inquiry’s report concluded that the NSW Greyhound Racing Industry had fundamental animal welfare issues, integrity and governance failings that could not be remedied.
“As a humane and responsible government, we are left with no acceptable course of action except to close this industry down,” Mr Baird said.
“This is the inevitable conclusion to be drawn from the appalling revelations in Mr McHugh’s report and his considered view that any other measures are unlikely to protect animals from further cruelty.”
The year-long shutdown will allow for appropriate management of animal welfare and transitions for industry participants.
But racing of greyhounds will be permitted up until 1 July next year.
Victoria’s Acting Racing Minister Jill Hennessy has confirmed that the government has no plans to ban greyhound racing in Victoria.
A statement from Ms Hennessy said: “The Victorian greyhound racing industry under Bernie Carolan and Alan Clayton has taken great strides in reforming the industry.”
Greyhound Racing Victoria (GRV) chairman Bernie Carolan said the NSW government’s decision was based on circumstances that were very different to Victoria.
“The closure of the NSW industry will put immense regulatory, compliance, rehoming and operational pressures on other states, especially Victoria, as they handle a potential influx of new participants and dogs,” Mr Carolan said.
“The sport operates on a smaller scale in Victoria and GRV is well advanced on fundamental and unprecedented cultural and operational reform to ensure it has a sustainable future as a fair and accountable code with greyhound welfare as its overriding priority.”
Mr Carolan said such a future in Victoria takes into account the employment of more than 3000 people, as well as generating indirect jobs throughout the state.
Cranbourne Greyhound Racing CEO Tony Mitchell declined to comment to The News on the matter.
But animal activist, Debra Tranter of Oscar’s Law has called the ban a “huge victory” to a long campaign.
“I believe more states will eventually follow and we will see an end to this hideous industry Australia wide,” Ms Tranter said.
“The killing, corruption and cruelty has been proven to be widespread and systematic and it can no longer be hidden or justified.”
However Mr Carolan has a very different view, saying: “Over the past year, Victoria’s Racing Integrity Commissioner (RIC) and Chief Veterinary Officer (CVO) have conducted major reviews of the sport, followed by the Bittar Review into the integrity of all the state’s racing codes which said GRV ‘should be applauded’ for the work it has done in terms of animal welfare and integrity.”
The Cranbourne News would like to speak to anyone involved in the Cranbourne greyhound racing industry and can be contacted on 5945 0612.
