UPDATED 4.45pm: NSW Premier Mike Baird has announced a ban on greyhound racing, after the state government considered an 800-page report tabled by a Special Commission into “widespread cruelty” in the industry.
There are 34 greyhound clubs and tracks in NSW – the vast majority being in the regions – with 19 of those being unaffiliated with TAB.
The ban will come into effect on July 1, 2017.
"In response to widespread illegal and unconscionable activity, including the slaughtering of tens of thousands of dogs, I can today announce that NSW is putting an end to greyhound racing," Mr Baird announced on his Facebook page on Thursday morning.
NSW Labor said it was strongly against animal cruelty but accused the premier of jumping the gun.
"We're talking about wiping out an entire industry," Labor racing spokesman Michael Daley said.
ACT Chief Minister Andrew Barr also confirmed the industry had no future in Canberra, saying it has turned a blind eye to animal cruelty for too long.
Mr Baird said a transition plan will set a path for the winding down of the industry, and will include:
- A welfare plan for existing greyhounds, including opportunities for re-homing;
- An adjustment package for industry participants; and
- A transition arrangement for existing Greyhound Racing NSW assets that will ensure they are used for open public space, alternative sporting facilities or other community use.
‘A bloody awful day’: Troy Grant
Deputy Premier and Racing Minister Troy Grant said the government had acted quickly to the issue and urged all in NSW to read a "chilling report".
"No government wants to close down an industry and there are many many people who have done nothing wrong," Mr Grant said. "They have been let down by their own industry."
Mr Grant said that delay to June 30 would facilitate the re-homing of dogs and a transition package for workers.
He said the sport would continue "under scrutiny" until then. "Don't panic. Government will work with you," Mr Grant said.
Mr Grant said the gradual year-long end to the industry and ban on greyhound racing was to forestall a greyhound "genocide".
He said the report found up to 20 per cent of trainers engaged in live baiting.
Baird ‘wrestled’ with positives of the industry
Mr Baird said he had wrestled with the positive impacts of the greyhound racing industry.
“There are over 1000 direct jobs in the industry and nearly 6000 registered owners of greyhounds. Dog racing can be an important part of the social fabric of regional towns. And, of course, having a punt on the dogs over a few beers is good fun for many people.”
The future of greyhound tracks on Crown land remains unclear, but Mr Baird ruled out high-rise development on city sites.
Mr Baird said the government would consult with the community about possible uses for the NSW greyhound tracks, which could be turned into sporting fields or parks.
Premier bowed to animal rights lobby: Shooters
NSW Shooters Fishers and Farmers Party MP Robert Borsak said government’s greyhound racing ban was a “huge mistake” that played into the hands of animal rights activists.
"Banning greyhound racing ... will abolish a billion dollar industry because Mike Baird lacks the will to tackle the difficult issues of the day,” Mr Borsak said.
"I'm also sure that the thoroughbred horse racing industry will be looking very closely at this decision and the reasons provided for it by the Premier.
"Will the Premier rule-out a ban on thoroughbred racing as he appeases the 'animal rights' lobby, or is there more to be expected?”
Mr Borsack’s biggest concern surrounded the future of existing greyhound racing sites.
“Will the land be passed on to developers like the proposal for the Powerhouse Museum, or will it be allocated towards other community uses?
"The final question is whether the NSW Government be guaranteeing compensation to those involved in the industry, for job losses and loss of livelihood.
"Mike Baird and his Government have a lot to answer."
RSPCA calls for other states to follow
Steve Coleman, the chief executive of RSPCA NSW, said he hoped NSW's decision to ban greyhound racing would force other states and territories to consider their positions.
"It's monumental, and I can only hope that this reverberates around the country," he said.
"The only way to stop live-baiting, and we've seen those disgraceful images, is to end greyhound racing, not just in NSW, but indeed the country."
The Queensland, Victorian, Tasmanian, and South Australian governments say they will not enforce a ban.
Some of the Special Commission findings included:
- The mass killing of greyhounds. The report found, “In NSW in the last 12 years… somewhere between 48,891 and 68,448 dogs were killed because they were considered too slow to pay their way or were unsuitable for racing.” In the industry, they call this “wastage”. It’s not wastage: it is the unnecessary slaughtering of tens of thousands of healthy dogs.
- The widespread practice of “live baiting”. This is where live animals, like rabbits, are used as bait to be chased by dogs in training sessions. The report found that, even though this is already illegal and carries heavy penalties, “a trainer, who admitted to engaging in live baiting, testified that about 10-20% of trainers engaged in live baiting.”
- The systemic deception of the public concerning the numbers of deaths and injuries of dogs. It is estimated that 180 greyhounds per year sustain catastrophic injuries during races such as skull fractures or broken backs that result in their immediate death. But the commission found that “Greyhound Racing NSW had adopted a policy of deliberately misreporting the extent of injuries suffered by greyhounds at racetracks.”
- The industry is not capable, in the short or medium term, of reforming. The report found that “it appears unlikely that the issue of the large scale killing of healthy greyhounds by the industry can be addressed successfully in the future.” In fact, the report found that, "such is the culture of the industry and some of its leaders that it is no longer, if it ever was, entitled to the trust of the community."
