RSPCA and government react to greyhound racing ban in NSW

RSPCA Australia has congratulated the Baird government’s decisive action to end greyhound racing by banning the sport in NSW from July 2017.

The RSPCA provided evidence to the NSW Special Commission of Inquiry which has found animal cruelty, mass greyhound killings and live baiting are systemic to the sport.

“The Baird government has made a courageous decision today, but one based on devastating evidence, and that has the overwhelming backing of the Australian public,” said Dr Jade Norris, Scientific Officer, RSPCA Australia.

“The greyhound racing industry lost its social licence in 2015 when ABC TV’s Four Corners exposed the horrors of live baiting using footage obtained by Animals Australia and Animal Liberation Queensland.

“As a result, criminal investigations by the RSPCA and Police have resulted in over 50 individuals being charged over live baiting offences across three states and 179 trainers and breeders charged for exporting greyhounds to Macau. Multiple trainers have also been banned by industry regulators from training or owning greyhounds.”

Norris said RSPCA urges all state and territory governments around Australia to read the Inquiry’s report and follow suit.

However, Labor is pushing for greyhound racing in NSW to be cleaned up rather than shut down altogether.

Opposition leader, Luke Foley said Premier Mike Baird’s call four days ago to ban the industry was an “elitist” decision.

“I stand for keeping the industry alive,” Foley said.

NSW MP Katrina Hodgkinson said Premier Mike Baird and Nationals leader Troy Grant’s move to announce the measure last week without consulting National Party members was ill-advised.

The greyhound industry will rally members across the state at a western Sydney meeting as it digs in to fight the Baird government’s decision to outlaw the sport.

The Greyhound Breeders, Owners and Trainers Association (GBOTA) will host the meeting in Yagoona with representatives from every club and track across NSW including Casino, Grafton, Dubbo, Nowra, Richmond and Dapto.

“We’ve got the full support of the TAB clubs in negotiating a united front on this. The TAB clubs and GPOTA now stand as one and we’re fighting the same fight,” said GPOTA spokesman and Dubbo Greyhound Club president Shayne Stiff.

AAP

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