Nsw To Ban Greyhound Racing From July 2017

[Steve]

The revenue they bring in via gambling doesn't cover what they have to pay out anymore and if they were to go with the recommendations they are saying it will cost 53 million for upgrades of tracks etc ,that there will be less breeding therefore less racing and even less revenue than is currently coming in due to the contraction of the industry without the bans. Fact is they get more money with less pain from casinos etc and they can use the grounds as another method of bringing in revenue.

I still don't think that is a good argument thousands on unemployment benefits and being educated to do another job isn't going to cost for years??? Looking after redundant Greyhounds as they said they were going eventually make a plan for ha ha isn't going to cost. 53 million is chicken feed. Jobs that you can live off are very very hard to get educated or otherwise.

Greyhounds haven't made money for them through gambling for years, from what I've been told, that's why the TAB didn't help.

there is a story in the telegraph on friday. Baird loses nothing by shuting it down, Saves millions not maintaining nsw tracks and the nsw govt will still get their share of all nsw bets put on interstate greyhound racing. 18.7 million was incomed from interstate betting.

he will still be receiving that.

Yep money in ,no money out. If lots are unemployed its a federal purse that pays them.You have to give it to him ,it was pretty clever and why labor wont re install it.

[asal]

interesting article.spotted on fb.

http://www.theaustralian.com.au/national-affairs/state-politics/turnbull-slams-baird-ban-on-greyhound-racing/news-story/b0d9fad6195b22b2c933f6b3c9237a47

this was below it

by one of the people commenting on it

"Talking about rabbits. When the RSPCA and the revenue raising council waltzed onto our place, two years ago.I had picked up a live baby bunny. So I walked out with it. Showed it to the by-laws manager, who cringed at the sight of it. Offered it to the vet (well thinking he might put it down humanely) nope he cringed at it. So one of the Nazi inspectors grabbed it out of my hand rung its neck in front of everyone with a big crunch, and threw it on the ground. I was shocked, as were the people I told."

found my self thinking, if anyone complained about that, they would be assured by Coleman, the said rabbit had been euthanased by the inspector.

Ashton the man who shot Ruth Downey's cattle, "euthed" em by standing beside a paddock gate and shot them as they were pushed through the 12 wide gate. no single shots to the head in that so called euth precdure. any one else or slaughter place would have been prosecuted for doing same. Yet rspca called it Euthanasia?

Edited August 28, 2016 by asal

[PossumCorner]

interesting article.spotted on fb.

http://www.theaustra...933f6b3c9237a47

.... grabbed it out of my hand .... I was shocked, ...

Couldn't read the clip, subscription only. Agree there are thug types in every strata of society. But likening them to Nazis is an insult to those who were there (just referring to the quoted response).

[asal]

interesting article.spotted on fb.

http://www.theaustra...933f6b3c9237a47

.... grabbed it out of my hand .... I was shocked, ...

Couldn't read the clip, subscription only. Agree there are thug types in every strata of society. But likening them to Nazis is an insult to those who were there (just referring to the quoted response).

this should open for you.

scroll down the page second one down on my screen.

https://www.facebook.com/groups/1083536528374841/1156642571064236/?notif_t=group_activity&notif_id=1472351272183632

[Rebanne]

Hmm so even owning a Greyhound in NSW may be under threat.

https://www.thedogs.com.au/NewsArticle.aspx?NewsId=7874

[BlaznHotAussies]

Hmm so even owning a Greyhound in NSW may be under threat.

https://www.thedogs....spx?NewsId=7874

That cannot be true Or someone hasn't proofread to make sure it makes sense!?! Hope it's the latter!!

[asal]

http://www.dailyadvertiser.com.au/st...greyhound-ban/

Cant help but suspect she is right. AR have already changed how we breed purebred dogs despite this all in the name of placating AR and political correctness

http://www.everythinggolden.com/new_page_195.htm

[Steve]

http://www.dailyadve....greyhound-ban/

Cant help but suspect she is right. AR have already changed how we breed purebred dogs despite this all in the name of placating AR and political correctness

http://www.everythin...ew_page_195.htm

No suspicion about it the science tells us breed em young and often but these days you get beaten up just for pointing out that the canine is a unique species and what the science says.

The CCs went for PR and bought restrictions in based on what AR were screaming and some states made it law so now they cant change it back even if someone with a bit of umph was on the board.

Talk about over restrictions and knee jerk reactions .What concerns me is we have a whole generation of breeders who believe doing the wrong thing is the right thing and getting their education from animal rights and those who have no experience or knowledge of breeding DOGS.

AND WE SIMPLY LET IT HAPPEN WITHOUT A MURMUR.

[Rebanne]

http://www.dailyadvertiser.com.au/st...greyhound-ban/

says page not found

[asal]

http://www.dailyadvertiser.com.au/st...greyhound-ban/

says page not found

no idea why the link isnt working.

this is the article it referrs too.

The Daily Advertiser

Tuesday August 30, 2016

Cootamundra MP Katrina Hodgkinson slams NSW Nationals leader over broken promise

LOCAL leaders have aired genuine fear for the future of agriculture in the wake of the state government’s greyhound racing ban.

It comes after Cootamundra MP Katrina Hodgkinson was unceremoniously demoted via press release late last week for crossing the floor of parliament to protect thousands of regional jobs.

Ms Hodgkinson told The Daily Advertiser she was taken aback when NSW Nationals leader Troy Grant broke a commitment that members of his own party would not be punished for revolting against the government’s greyhound ban.

“It’s the leader’s discretion, but he made a point of making sure nobody would be penalised for crossing the floor,” she said.

Ms Hodgkinson worries the greyhound ban has set a potentially disastrous precedent for livestock farming and other forms of animal-related sports.

“The greyhound ban was announced as a fait accompli, there was nothing I could do,” Ms Hodgkinson said.

“What’s next; bans on camp drafting, rodeos, poultry farming, dairy farming, piggeries?”

Riverina MP Michael McCormack said the greyhound racing ban was “the thin edge of the wedge”, which had emboldened “largely irrational” animal activists.

“Animal liberationists will not stop until every animal is set free,” Mr McCormack said.

“When they finally get their way and some stupid government in the future bans thoroughbred racing, we’ll look back and say the greyhound ban was the start of this nonsense.”

In 2013 Temora community members volunteered 2,500 man-hours worth more than $340,000 to upgrade the greyhound track from grass to sand in a bid to secure the facility’s future.

Temora mayor Rick Firman said the greyhound club injected $250,000 per year, money “the local economy cannot afford to lose”.

“This decision is sickening and disappointing,” Cr Firman said.

“Greyhound racing was part of the fabric of our community and promoted Temora across the country.”

[asal]

hot off the press it seems.

http://www.theland.com.au/story/4134039/farms-on-trial-after-dog-ban/

Well that didnt take long after all? Although I tend to agree with him on two of the three listed. sow stalls for some sows save piglets.

Animal Justice MP Mark Pearson says farming is 'on trial' after greyhounds ban

Alex Druce@AlexDruuuce

1 Sep 2016, 5:05 a.m.

News

Aa

Animal Justice MP Mark Pearson has vowed to hasten phasing out sow stalls, adopting pain-free mulesing, and embracing technology to stop male chick maceration.

AN Animal Justice Party MP emboldened by the NSW Greyhound industry ban has put intensive agriculture “on trial” and says the banning of certain farm practices is inevitable.

But the ultimate goal of Upper House MP Mark Pearson to halt all animal production is too much for even the Greens, who say it is absurd to suggest agriculture in NSW does not have a social licence.

Mr Pearson, NSW parliament’s sole Animal Justice representative, said he and his supporters were inspired by the passing of legislation banning greyhound racing in NSW last week.

“Whether we like it or not aspects of intensive farming will be put on trial,” Mr Pearson told The Land.

“And I will certainly be a catalyst for that.”

The Upper House MP had this year called for barbed wire on farms to be banned, and for wild Snowy Mountains brumbies to be left unchecked, and an increased focus on agriculture began in July when the Greyhound ban was announced by Premier Mike Baird.

Since then Mr Pearson has supported calls to ban live export, urged a halt to the kangaroo harvest, and suggested this week pig hunting with dogs be outlawed.

He has also vowed to hasten reforms already accepted as necessary by industry – including phasing out sow stalls, adopting pain-free mulesing, and embracing technology that would end the maceration of male chicks.

During the Greyhound debate primary producers feared the natural progression of the discussion would see animal wastage on farms targeted, and agriculture’s social licence questioned.

For his part Primary Industries Minister Niall Blair has consistently backed industry.

He said the use of animals on farms was different to the Greyhound industry on account of farmers’ dedication to best practice.

“I will neither introduce nor support legislation that prohibits or unnecessarily impedes intensive livestock farming in NSW, because it is not warranted,” Mr Blair said this week.

But Mr Pearson says change is unavoidable.

Whether we like it or not aspects of intensive farming will be put on trial - NSW Animal Justice Party MP Mark Pearson

“In some ways the industries are already looking at what they do. Killing (male chicks) just because they’re born a certain sex isn’t going to fly with the average person for very long,” he said.

Mr Pearson admitted the social licence of agriculture and greyhound racing were not comparable – but said the industries were linked through use of animals.

“I wouldn’t say that (the two) are chalk and cheese,” he said.

“But the difference is with the greyhound industry is the criminal behaviour… it’s animal abuse and torture.

“I think the changes in agriculture will be more incremental”

Mr Pearson could form a six-seat bloc in the NSW Upper House if he sided with the party most closely aligned to his party’s political beliefs: The Greens.

But NSW Greens agriculture spokesman Jeremy Buckingham said he did not agree with Mr Pearson’s stance and said animals were an integral part of farming systems.

“Of course the industry should meet the highest standards, but any suggestion that it does not have a social licence is absurd," Mr Buckingham said.

[kayla1]

By Paul Newson, Interim CEO GRNSW. Extracts below, full article here

Denials, Cover-ups And A Lack Of Transparency Killed Greyhound Racing In NSW

I took up the interim Chief Executive role at Greyhound Racing NSW on 19 February 2015, only days after the disturbing and deeply troubling revelations by 'Four Corners' and associated media reports that the previous GRNSW management had scrambled to appoint "some dog whisperer with a PhD" as a way of deflecting criticism about the live baiting scandal.

GRNSW was an organisation under siege, and when I tried to engage with industry I was confronted by belligerent fuelled denial. Participants were angry and indignant at what many believed was an unjust invasion of privacy. A criminal act suffered at the hands of the animal activists.

While difficult to comprehend at the time, the primary, and perhaps not unreasonable concern in other circumstances, of most participants was the uncompetitive prize money offered in NSW.

Self-interest persisted as the underlying agenda.

Very early on, participants impressed upon me the fractured and bitter nature of the industry where recriminations were rife, capable leadership was sparse and the more formal structures were encumbered by antiquated views and inertia. Mostly, participants were aggrieved and bent on righting past wrongs. The industry showed limited self-awareness, was unwilling to take responsibility and the regulator had been missing in action.

While horrific, the spectre of live baiting, whether endemic as was suggested to me or aberrant as the limited number of convictions argue, was never the issue that would be fatal to greyhound racing. The historical disregard for adequate oversight was repaired. GRNSW is vigilant and within the limits of its enforcement powers is holding industry to account.

Greyhound racing might have been able to rebuild its social licence when the veil was lifted on live baiting. We all accept that mistakes can be made, even very bad mistakes, but when you won't admit your mistakes and therefore aren't prepared to change, the public decide you aren't misguided or mismanaged but you meant to do it and are therefore inherently bad and can never be trusted.

This should be the key lesson for other industries facing controversy.

Vilification of anyone who dared to be critical of them, including me, remains a fundamental feature of the industry. Not only did they deny live baiting they were outraged at the animal welfare groups and 'Four Corners' who caught them and at the public that didn't understand why what they did wasn't really so wrong after all. People kill animals for commercial gain all the time, they still argue.

Tellingly, these weren't the outliers of the industry; many were the core, high profile owners, trainers and breeders and much of the past leadership of greyhound racing in NSW.

Those who denied the systemic challenge of over-breeding, excessive injuries and unnecessary killing of greyhounds despite the mounting evidence, and fought tooth and nail against GRNSW initiatives, put themselves above the greyhound racing industry's integrity and reputation.

Attempts to tether the institutional killing of surplus greyhounds as akin to the human food chain are as naive as they are specious. The industry was even more unlikely to recover community trust when light was shone on the scale of the over-breeding and unnecessary euthanasia was revealed in the Commission hearings. If there is any blame for the loss of acceptance and support it undoubtedly lies here. From within the failure to value authentic engagement with stakeholders and adequately monitor and report across the greyhound lifecycle let down industry's salt-of-the-earth participants, the law abiders, animal welfare upholders and long-timers who love their sport.

The previous GRNSW management's failure to acknowledge and meaningfully respond to the problems in the industry also weighed heavily in McHugh's [special Commissioner] deliberations. The Commission found there was a failure of transparency and even more troubling, information was withheld from the punters and the public, both as to nature and severity of injuries and related euthanasia suffered by greyhounds at race meetings. A further death blow to trust and credibility.

There is no doubt greyhound racing makes a valuable social and economic contribution to NSW. We attempted to tell a persuasive story around this in our submissions to the Commission; however, as compelling as the story may be it couldn't overcome the voluminous evidence about callous practices. The exact amount of wastage is unimportant, everyone could see it was substantial and in any case for many people one healthy dog killed to sustain a wagering product is one to many.

Live baiting denials, the cover-up of poor practices, the lack of transparency about on track injuries and deaths, the numbers of dogs that were killed for the sport to continue and counter claims they loved their dogs deeply just didn't stack up -– every denial and every spurious argument and the divisive fighting with critics, helped to further destroy trust and credibility.

In the end a former Justice of the High Court deemed the sport in NSW was incapable of reforming itself and, sadly for the many good participants and for those within GRNSW that worked tirelessly on the reform program, this was true.

[The Spotted Devil]

Thank you so much for posting. He has said much of what I thought, this in particular:

Greyhound racing might have been able to rebuild its social licence when the veil was lifted on live baiting. We all accept that mistakes can be made, even very bad mistakes, but when you won't admit your mistakes and therefore aren't prepared to change, the public decide you aren't misguided or mismanaged but you meant to do it and are therefore inherently bad and can never be trusted.

[asal]

Pity that wasn't available long ago.

what an incredibly difficult position to have been in.

Just opened fb and up pops this. something else no mention has been made, whole heap of raids were done prior to the 7.30 report. but nothing as this lady wrote was said about the results.

"Neath trainer Margaret Bright received a huge surprise recently when she saw a team of strangers jump over her fence and invade her property in the Hunter Valley NSW. Bright was just one target of a recent RSPCA and GRNSW ‘crackdown’ to bust alleged animal welfare issues within the sport. The search was reportedly one of three conducted in the area and has left local participants confused and irritated.

“On Monday morning I had people jumping my fence at quarter to six in the morning”, Margaret explained of the shocking situation, “I woke up and I just looked out the window to see what the weather was like and I had one guy in my front yard and one guy jumping my front fence”.

“I went to the door and they introduced themselves as RSPCA and GRNSW and I said ‘is there some problem? And they said, ‘We have had a complaint that there is live baiting conducted on this property at 5 o’clock every morning using possums, cats and rabbits’”.

“They went through everything. They checked all of my dogs, they asked me if I have any cats or rabbits and I said ‘yes, my brother has a pet cat called Jessie, my granddaughter has a pet rabbit called Arthur’ and I said ‘other than that no’. They went through everything- fridges, freezers, cupboards....you name it”

“He said he needed to inspect my entire property. He asked me every question under the sun. We had to follow them around the property, they went through every shed”.

Ultimately, the search revealed nothing but healthy and happy greyhounds. With everything in perfect order, Bright wants to know why it was not made public that the raids uncovered no mistreatment. With recent allegations that the industry is rife with cruelty, corruption and collusion, releasing a statement on their positive findings could help to repair and rebuild the tarnished image and reputation of the industry.

“At the end of the day everything was perfectly fine, but why don’t they say that we have inspected greyhound properties, we have found no mistreatment and no problems with it? That way the RSPCA is putting out there that they have won and that they are doing their job, but also that we are doing our jobs by everything being perfect”

“I asked were there any problems and if there was anything wrong and the RSPCA basically said to me that from every dog they saw on the property, there was not one dog that was in any bad condition. Their kennels were brilliant, everything was clean and they said ‘you can hold your head high’”.

“They have raided a few others and everything was fine but why don’t they say the positive things like that? The RSPCA have raided, visited whatever word they want to use and all the inspections have found that there is no mistreatment of the greyhounds. So why don’t they do that?”

The raids were conducted on Monday 14th October- the day before the ABC aired a controversial 7.30 Report that alleged a plethora of uncorroborated accusations from race fixing and doping to animal cruelty. The RSPCA took a high profile stance though spokesperson Jade Norris, who alleged that "40% of all greyhounds bred never make it to the racetrack". There were also claims that over 17,000 dogs are euthanized each year because they are not fast enough to race. These baseless claims were left unsubstantiated with no clear evidence to support them.

It had been widely publicised prior to the 7:30 Report going to air that NSW greyhound racing was to be presented in a predominantly negative light. Given the RSPCA were actively involved in the development of the 7:30 Report story, and knew in advance of the allegations to be levelled against the industry; the question must be asked - Was the timing of the raids influenced or encouraged by the ABC's 7:30 Report? Did the RSPCA seek to manufacture a high profile media event to secure higher ratings and consequently justify its own questionable allegations?

Either way, the outcomes of the raids conducted by GRNSW and the RSPCA failed to make it to the air on the 7:30 Report; a report that many feel presented a one-sided and narrow insight into the greyhound racing industry.

“As a trainer I feel it (7.30 report) was a one-sided misrepresentation of the greyhound industry. It was disgusting actually. They showed no positives of the greyhounds. For people to get on there and say they took a bitch and they were going to drown the pups, that’s just not called for. The other part, as a trainer, that I felt was bad was the actual fact that they showed the race at Wentworth Park. That should not have been allowed- they are one off incidents and that is not what greyhound racing is all about”, Bright said.

“I didn’t understand why it was so one-sided. The RSPCA sees cases of cruelty probably more-so in the domestic animal world than in the greyhound animal world. If you got the figures from the RSPCA as to many were born, how many were put-down and the cruelty cases that come through there- they would be way higher than the greyhound industry. They are putting it all onto us but their rate would be a hell of a lot higher”

“We have people rehoming such as GAP, the Belmont Vets and numerous other greyhound adoption organizations but it (the negative publicity) is detrimental to us rehoming them- people are not going to want them as pets because the industry has been portrayed in a bad light”

Australian Racing Greyhound contacted both GRNSW and the RSPCA for official comment in aftermath of the 7:30 Report, but neither organisation would provide an official response.

Australian Racing Greyhound contacted the RSPCA on a number of occasions by email and phone to comment on the factors behind the raids, the timing of the raids, and the outcomes; but the RSPCA failed to provide any information despite assurances to the contrary.

Katherine Ernst

About Katherine Ernst (All Articles)

Katherine is a born and bred greyhound racing enthusiast from the Hunter Valley NSW. Growing up with greyhounds, she has an appreciation for all aspects of greyhound racing from breeding and rearing to training and retirement. Katherine has worked in many positions within the media industry, including as greyhound racing columnist for both the Maitland Mercury and the Greyhound Recorder and as a Producer for Sky Racing."

Edited September 2, 2016 by asal

[trifecta]

Big headline front page of the Telegraph this morning: Baird Government to overturn greyhound racing ban!!!!!

[The Spotted Devil]

Yes, this one's been brewing for a while...didn't think it would come to pass so quickly.

[juice]

So he will save his own ass rather than stand up to the thugs that run the industry.

How can it possibly change when they are so arrogant, think they are doing nothing wrong and no one ever reported the cruelty before as they were too scared, so how will it change now?

I feared he would backflip.money speaks louder than anything.

[trifecta]

Swings of 20% against the State government in local elections, plus rumours of a leadership spill. People are pissed off with heavy handed government, the forced council amalgamations have only reinforced people's opinions. In country areas the ban is seen as a decision made purely for city folks....there are now more people against the ban than for it.

[Two Best Dogs!]

The industry would now be given a stay of extension to see if it can clean up its act.

“The plan b seems to be a trial to put in tough regulations and see how it works but you have to ask why he didn’t do that in the first instance,” Associate Professor Gregory Melleuish from the University of Wollongong told news.com.au.

That's the only bit I care about, does anyone have knowkedge of where we can read about plan b, if available? Documents etc? (Or if still being developed...?)

[juice]

Id like to see those who don't support the ban going to watch live baiting in action then sticking their hands up to take one of the 70% of dogs who don't make it . Because I'm damn sure the trainers who love them so much havnt got any sitting on their lounge .