Dubbo trainers are ‘jumping for joy’ after the state government announced it would reverse its decision to ban greyhound racing from next year.
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As industry participants celebrated the reversal of the greyhound ban, which was due to come into force in July 2017, trainer Charmaine Roberts said there was no room in the industry for people who won’t comply.
“We have been jumping for joy at the decision. It has been a gut-wrenching few months but there is a positive outcome,” Ms Roberts said.
“I would say 99 per cent of people really care about their dogs and anyone who says otherwise doesn’t know the industry.”
NSW Premier Mike Baird and the Deputy Premier, Dubbo MP Troy Grant, said the industry had “one last chance” to show it could eliminate animal cruelty and as part of the reforms, there will be less greyhounds, less tracks and more scrutiny.
However Ms Roberts said people in the industry would be willing to accept that because they were already looking after their dogs.
“No one in the industry wants animal cruelty. There is no place in the sport for anyone like that,” she said.
Fellow trainer Leighton Winter said he too was relieved by the decision
“It’s a big relief. The ban wasn’t just going to affect greyhound people but also the wider community,” Mr Winter said.
Dubbo Greyhound Racing Club president Shayne Stiff, who is also a member of the NSW Greyhound Industry Alliance, said there would be no new regulations in the short term.
He said Greyhound Racing NSW would continue to operate under the reforms introduced in 2015 until the new body, to be headed by former Premier Morris Iemma is in place.
Mr Stiff also said there were no tracks currently at risk of closing, despite the government saying it was part of the plan.
Co-owner of Murrumbar Pet Meat Brian Tink, who faced having to close if the ban went ahead, said he welcomed the decision.
Approximately 90 per cent of Murrumbar’s business, which was set up by Mr Tink and his brother Wayne 32 years ago, is with the greyhound industry.
“I’m happy to see they have reversed the ban but it should never have happened in the first place,” he said.
“Mike Baird said he has listened but he could have changed his mind three months ago.”