ANGRY and frustrated greyhound racing insiders met with transition taskforce co-ordinator Dr John Keniry in Bathurst on Wednesday.
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The head of the NSW Government’s greyhounds transition taskforce, Dr Keniry is touring the state to meet with those who will be impacted by the ban.
He will then create a transition package for the government that could include a raft of measures including financial assistance.
Highly-controversial legislation was passed in NSW Parliament last month to ban greyhound racingin NSW from July 1, 2017.
Dr Keniry met about 30 people at Bathurst’s Kennerson Park on Wednesday morning.
They voiced their concerns about the impending ban and what it will mean for them.
Bathurst Greyhound Racing Club track manager Jason Lyne said trainers, breeders, rearers, owners and industry employees from Bathurst, Orange, Cowra, Mudgee, Lithgow and Mandurama attended the forum.
“They’re just frustrated with the whole process and worried whether it will actually mean anything,” he said of Dr Keniry’s visit.
“They just want to continue racing, they can’t understand why other racing industries can continue.”
Mr Lyne said the main concern of those who attended was the welfare of the dogs, especially where some people can have up to 50 dogs.
“They don’t want to give them to the RSPCA in case they get put down,” he said.
“How are people going to afford to keep the dogs, especially if they can’t race them.”
Dr Keniry agreed that Bathurst’s greyhound racing industry was not happy about the ban and said some people had asked if training and breeding could be extended beyond June 30, 2017.
Mr Lyne said he was hopeful Dr Keniry would listen to feedback provided by greyhound racing insiders and take it into careful consideration when planning the transition package for the government.
To add your feedback to the transition package being planned visit www.racing.justice.nsw.gov.au to complete a short online survey.