New South Wales will be the first state in Australia to ban greyhound racing with premier Mike Baird making the announcement on Thursday.
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The premier said the decision was in response to widespread illegal and unconscionable activity, including the slaughtering of tens of thousands of dogs.
A Special Commission of inquiry into the greyhound industry was established following reports of illegal activities and cruelty to animal a year ago.
Some of the findings from the special commission include the mass killing of greyhouds, the widespread practice of ‘live baiting’, the systemic deception of the public concerning the numbers of deaths and injuries of dogs and the industry being unable to reform.
In a statement premier Mike Baird said the government would be working with the industry over the coming months.
“We will consult with the industry to help minimise the pain as best we can for the innocent industry participants as we work towards an orderly industry shutdown.
“We will develop a strategy to work with the RSPCA to manage the welfare of existing greyhounds. And the transition arrangement for Greyhound Racing NSW assets (like greyhound racing tracks) will ensure they are used for open public space, alternative sports facilities or other community use,” Mr Baird said.
“I feel much empathy for innocent trainers and those who will lose their job or hobby as a result of this. And I understand the disappointment of people who enjoy having a punt on the dogs. But we simply cannot and will not stand-by and allow the widespread and systemic mistreatment of animals.”
You can see the full report here.
What the 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."
