Mike Baird is the Premier of NSW, the state with the biggest population in the Commonwealth.
He’s a good, positive politician for his state, a man with vision who thinks outside the box.
But he’s made a bad call to wipe out the greyhound industry in NSW by July 1 next year.
I’ll put my cards on the table as a North Shore Liberal voter, and I still say the premier has got it wrong.
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There are thousands of animal lovers who can’t afford to buy a thoroughbred, or a trotter, but can afford to own a dog.
Sure, there are criminal elements and cruel operators in greyhound racing, but the vast majority are clean and for many of them it’s their full-time employment and enjoyment – they love their dogs.
It’s a reported $350 million industry in NSW, and if the premier’s decision goes ahead, many thousands will be out of a job among the breeders, owners, trainers, vets, meat providers, bookies, and punters.
Let’s look at the facts.
The Special Commission of Inquiry’s report to the NSW Government states more than 60,000 greyhounds have been slaughtered over 12 years. Their ‘crime’ is that they are too slow to be competitive.
I find that stat hard to get my head around; that there are people who could just end a dog’s life because they weren’t going to pay their way.
Surely there can’t be too many of those bastards who can be traced and properly punished?
But to wipe out an entire industry that in the main are good people, is not the Australian way.
What Premier Baird has done is flick the industry problems into the ‘too hard’ basket, and then get rid of the basket.
That’s not the Baird way either.
But there are three organisations who reckon the premier has got it right – the RSPCA, the People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals and the greyhound adoption agencies.
In fairness, all three organisations are supporting anything to stop cruelty to greyhounds and live bait for training, and that’s the way it should be.
But not a word about the collateral damage to thousands of good people who are totally innocent, but face having their livelihoods taken away.
Thankfully, there’s plenty of time left before July 1 next year for some cool-headed discussions.
Where there’s a will, there’s a way.
K. Smith
Guest
1. Greyhounds do not 'die all over the world from this'. Accidents are very rare, and when they do happen, it's nobody's fault. It's like football, there's always bad eggs. Your dog can get hurt in your backyard! Maybe we should ban letting your dog play outside. 2. If greyhounds don't like the sport, why would they do it? Please, explain. 3. It's utterly impossible to force a dog to chase a lure. If dogs don't want to do something, they won't do it. 4. Where's your proof that greyhounds are put on steroids to race? If they were on Prednisone - which quickly makes muscles waste away and distributes fat unevenly (I know this, I have a whippet with IMHA who was on Prednisone for ten months) -, how would they be able to run? 5. There's no rulebook that says only greyhounds can race. Maybe if you would open your mind half as much as you open your mouth, you'd know that racing is not only for greyhounds alone. Many other non-sighthound breeds can race. It's just not as common. There are a lot of other racing-type sports that non-sighthound breeds can participate in, like FastCAT and lure coursing. 6. 'just cruel to them no matter what'. How so?
K. Smith
Guest
The majority of greyhounds are treated like luxury; obviously there are some bad owner that mistreat their dogs but there's always bad eggs. Accidents happen on the tracks, it's nobody's fault. You're dog can get hurt playing on your living room, or in your backyard. One of my whippets fractured her leg running in our yard after she ran into one of our border collies several years ago. There's no way you can force a dog to chase a lure around a track; it's simply impossible. The greyhounds clearly love racing, if they didn't, they wouldn't run. Anyone with half a brain cell should know that. Racing them keeps them fit, happy and healthy. It entertains them and makes them more confident. Other breeds can race and compete in sports similar to racing as well. Lure coursing and FastCAT are open to all breeds, not just sighthounds. It's utterly ridiculous to ban racing in Florida because a handful of greyhound breeders and owners mistreat their dogs. Like I said, most racing greyhounds are treated well.
Smiles the greyhound
Guest
Im a greyhound lover and i will NEVER EVER think greyhound racing is good. it should be banned everywhere. 1. gryehounds die all over the world from this 2. Greyhounds dont LIKE IT 3. greyhounds are forced to race 4. some gryehounds are put on STEROIDS TO RACE 5. greyhounds may be the fastest dog ever but why dont you race other dogs? why just the greyhounds 6. this is just cruel to them no matter what
lorna welsh
Guest
banning greyhound racing is wrong this article didnt even get right facts or talk to the right people
E-Meter
Guest
Even the former chief vet blew the whistle. The "sport" is doomed in NSW. Time to move on.
pete bloor
Guest
Which makes about 99% of life fictional
Toby
Guest
The figures being quoted with regards to "wastage" are assumptions not facts. I've got to go now and feed the three deceased greyhounds in the back yard, they're hungry.
Aaron Cross
Guest
Haha the Roar has never had so many clicks.. Since when do governments bend to the will of a minority bunch of whiners like the greyhound racing industry? if governments caved to every whining little self-interested cretin there would be no government. Buckle in for an ass caning.
ten four
Guest
Christo I have about as much evidence as you have for the position you are taking. I am basing my judgement on the negative reaction to this ban from broad range of people, and I am predicting a big backflip by the Baird Government
delbeato
Roar Guru
People who are adults are free to choose whether to participate in activities that pose a risk to their health and safety. It's illogical to reason that because a small number of people choose to take the risks inherent in being a race jockey, that makes it OK to mistreat animals.
delbeato
Roar Guru
Namely? If you mean his statement about the economic impact of reducing the size of the industry, that's got nothing to do with his findings on greyhound mistreatment.
Christo the Daddyo
Guest
"a lot of people have seen right through it" Really? Any proof of this, or is it just evidence-less wishful thinking on your part?
harry houdini
Roar Rookie
Chump ! - where did you learn that one - LOL, Oprahs book club ?
Toby
Guest
No it doesn't add up Delbeato which is why Justice Mchugh is back peddling and retracting parts of his report
Farqueue
Guest
Is a dogs life worth more than a human life ? Every year people are killed and crippled in horse racing...a "sport" that only exists for gambling. Millions of animals are slaughtered each year...it's not nice but that is the world we live in. Also if it's not banned in other states it will just force trainers to drive further.
spruce moose
Guest
Just remember chump...you started it with the paddo terrace jibe.
tenfour
Guest
I am not from the grey hound industry but he has lost my vote over this. This decision is a symptom of a government that has become arrogant , picking on what they saw as a soft target, to try to appear strong and decisive , and a lot of people have seen right through it and I think they have badly misjudged this.
Brian George
Guest
John Howard (I greatly admire him btw) would have lost the "gun" election had Beasley not supported the legislation thus not pandering to the anti vote. The GST though was all his and well done. Sadly few pollies have the courage of their convictions today.
Casual Observer
Guest
So he's lost a few votes from the Greyhound industry, but you're ignoring how many he has likely "won" in picking up new voters by effecting the ban. He will now garner more political support from the swinging or Labor-voting casual observers who have been completely indifferent to greyhound racing bar the cruelty reports over the last few years. If I can judge by conversation with some politically-apathetic female friends over the weekend, he has just given them a reason to vote for him, and so likely picked up 10-fold the number that he may have lost.
harry houdini
Roar Rookie
So off track and so personal, that's what you do, the emotive manipulation of the 'facts'. Hey guys these dog trainers don't understand Oscar Wilde, troglodytes all of them - ban greyhounds!