Dubbo Greyhound Racing Club president Shayne Stiff has labelled the NSW government's decision to shut down the industry as “ludicrous”.
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Premier Mike Baird, along with Deputy Premier and Minster for Racing Troy Grant, announced on Thursday that the sport of greyhound racing will be banned in NSW from July 1 next year.
The statement immediately rocked the industry, with Stiff admitting he was “shocked” but he stated it was his belief the decision following the Special Commission of Inquiry was wrong.
I think it’s a bad, bad knee-jerk reaction from the government.
- Dubbo Greyhound Racing Club president Shayne Stiff
“A few people made the wrong decision but when 20 police officers do the wrong thing they don’t shut the police force down. When priests are caught doing the wrong thing they don’t shut down the Catholic Church so why are they shutting down this entire industry” he said.
“This is an industry which is worth more than $3 billion to the state and in taxes it generates $500 million.”
The announcement from the state government came following the Inquiry which found “overwhelming evidence of systemic animal cruelty, including mass greyhound killings and live baiting”.
The decision to ban the sport has been made with a view to protect the welfare of the animals after the Inquiry stated 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.
“As a humane and responsible Government, we are left with no acceptable course of action except to close this industry down,” premier Baird said in a statement.
Stiff disagreed, stating a huge amount of reform had gone through the sport in the last year following an episode of Four Corners on the ABC in February of 2015 uncovering issues such as live baiting and the killing of dogs.
“So why can’t we keep going with the reform?” Stiff asked.
“I think it’s a bad, bad knee-jerk reaction from the government.”
Stiff had already been in touch with a number of unions involved in the sport and indicated he would fight strongly against the decision.
As it stands, racing will be permitted to continue up until July 1 of next year but a transition pathway has been put in place in order to make the shut down as smooth as possible.
Measures taken include the implementation of a welfare plan for existing greyhounds, including opportunities for re-homing; an adjustment package for industry participants, and also 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.
Nick Guthrie
I started working at the Daily Liberal in 2013 and now hold the position of senior journalist. I cover all that's happening in sport in Dubbo and the wider western area and have a passion for doing so. If you've got a story that needs telling, reach out.
I started working at the Daily Liberal in 2013 and now hold the position of senior journalist. I cover all that's happening in sport in Dubbo and the wider western area and have a passion for doing so. If you've got a story that needs telling, reach out.
