The thing about manipulative people is not that they lie, but they insist on others repeating those lies on their behalf.
Not long ago, the premier of NSW, Mike Baird resigned. While there is no reason to doubt his sincerity when he cites family reasons for leaving office, it should also be uncontroversial to assert that his conduct throughout his attempt to ban greyhound racing severely damaged his authority as a political leader.
I never thought the issue of greyhound racing could cause so much political turmoil, a Deputy Premier forced to resign after a disastrous by-election and a gravely wounded, soon to be ex-Premier. But this is an outcome the two men thoroughly deserved.
In my view Mike Baird was the darling of the media, particularly the Sydney Morning Herald and the ABC. In this environment it was unsurprising that it was the medium of talkback radio that did the damage. In the absence of serious scrutiny from the Herald and the ABC, it was left to the “shock jocks” at 2GB to have a crack at investigative journalism.
And they did their job. When Mike Baird announced he was banning greyhound racing, he dismissed his critics in the most patronising manner. He implored us to “read the report”, the report no-one had yet scrutinised or debated, expecting that media outlets would do no more than regurgitate the most absurd claims as fact.
But when Ray Hadley and his team began scrutinising the report they quickly found that the explosive claim that people were drowning pups was a fabrication. Most remarkably, this was the very first reference in the report, a claim made on the very first page. This was an epic failure on the part of the Special Commission and Baird and Grant should have been given no option by the NSW and national press. Overturn the ban and have an inquiry into the report.
Instead he dug his heels in and pushed the Bill through the parliament upside-down, through the Upper House and then the Lower. Neither he, nor his Deputy Troy Grant apologised for the false allegation and never insisted that the Special Commission did either.
The message to Joe Public was simple, when we lie to them it’s a crime, when they lie to us it’s just politics.
What sort of democracy are we in when people’s livelihoods and enjoyment can be destroyed by a public institution that lies about drowning puppies? Now, truth and justice are two concepts that are never too far away from each other, at least that’s what I learnt from Roger Ramjet cartoons.
How the truth was decoupled from the report written by Justice McHugh did not matter, nor did it matter who actually lied in the report, but Mike Baird and Troy Grant were responsible for correcting it.
Of course, 2GB, the Daily Telegraph, The Australian and Paul Murray continued to scrutinise the report, pushing the view that the majority should not be punished for the actions of a minority, and it was easy enough to come to the conclusion that it was wrong about pretty much everything. The lawyers representing the participants of greyhound racing were doing cartwheels in their office as they kept comparing the report to objective reality.
When the files relating to the advertising campaign by the Justice Department were released the Government found itself in a perfect storm. Comments about the standard of literacy of greyhound racing participants were seized upon by the media and fed into the perception of an arrogant, out of touch Government that was more interested in itself than the community it was to serve.
By now, well-informed rumours were rife that the public servant charged with counting the number of greyhounds for compensation had some bad news, the numbers in the report were bulldust. Baird and Grant hoisted the white flag, announced they would repeal the ban and suppressed the report of the public servant. The rest, as they say, is history.
But with all things said and done, we still don’t really know who the manipulators were. Who were the people that corrupted the process so badly that the Premier first told us to read a piece of fiction, then refused to apologise for misleading the public?
Why were the same journalists who shout “post-truth” and “fake news” at anything they disagree with unable or unwilling to “fact-check” the first reference in a document they were calling historic?
The lesson for us is that journalists and Governments have power, and people will naturally want to leverage that power for their own purposes. Leaders of Governments must recognise this and acknowledge that some worldly cynicism, rather than starry-eyed idealism, is an asset. And both journalists and politicians must be eternally vigilant against being manipulated or face the consequences.
And that’s why the 2GB-inspired successful revolt against the NSW Government over greyhound racing should be applauded as an event that will improve, not damage, governance and politics in NSW.
Nick
Guest
Cracking post! I say he will breed greyhounds for pets, otherwise he will wipe out the species he claims to care about. No racing no greyhounds.
Nick
Guest
Interesting, 2GB and the telegraph took money from the government to run anti greyhound ads, so that proves you wrong about where their ideology comes from. So a pro racing person wrote an article praises their sport and their supporters, so what......Anti racing people do the same, sports fans write articles as well. I also clicked on his name and it is all disclosed in his profile.
greg
Guest
should never type when driving. but the message is loud and clear old son.
greg
Guest
shows u how up to date u are not. after he zipped across to SYRIA foraquick sojourn,and left his calling card,that president is now the numero uno of all presidents. take itfromme,anti trums are equaltoanti greys. yep that's fact.
Arky
Guest
Anyone praising 2GB, the Telegraph and the Australian for journalism is raising a red flag. Those media outlets go where the money and their bosses' ideology says to go. The author's direct involvement in the greyhound racing industry ought to be disclosed at the start of the article. This is trumphalism by an industry figure, not a real article. For shame, Roar.
greg
Guest
AGREE JIM. AARON,shutting the industry is only the answer for people like you. what would you do with yourself if it was closed down? you been banging on for years now and no progress,but at least you have entertained YOURSELF very well. when will you retire son? your results are pathetic to say,so maybe your group need a new leader! is this possible,or are you that small of an organistaion,like just you going solo,that you have to continue on,and on,and on.....
greg
Guest
back at ya son.. neither side will ever agree,but are you innocent of NEVER being blinded by your cause?
Nick
Guest
Tarring everybody again and playing the man. Why should the people who haven't sent dogs to china be tarred by you? Do you feed your dogs meat?
Nick
Guest
But you protested in 2012, what changed your mind the poor turnout? You said MPs don't listen to protest, so why would they listen to petitions? MPs only listen to what effects them. ICA, doesn't really bother me. But thanks for helping us get $41 million and better welfare. Who's winning or losing? Well in Australia greyhound racing is going very well. I don't need you to entertain me, as I can still race and punt on greyhounds! Hope that makes you hungry for more petitions so we can get more government funding.
Aaron C
Guest
Looks like the ACT but couldn't really say..
Aaron C
Guest
If you were the one who presented that petition then you probably could take at least some credit for it. I explained protest culture. It's a common thing now. It's not the firebrand revolution it once was. You think you're in a good place, we think we're in a good place, the only ones who aren't is greyhounds. In any case, I'm happy to agree that we disagree who's winning. I just know the issue of greyhound racing in general is much higher in profile than it was when we started. All good! And I don't have to explain what I know, I'm actually going to instead spend that time working on a job, so forgive me if I decline to entertain you. I hope 41Million$ worth of being policed works out well for you. Sorry to hear there's no changes to the ICA lol All the best!
Nick
Guest
Should have been done years ago, so really the industry has been saving all that money for years! also if you asked participants if they want more welfare or the governing body to make a profit, the answer is the first one. Also punting on dogs is going up so the money is coming form the air. Revenue is up everywhere thanks to betting! Can you also show a direct link? Article or proof that it was you? Otherwise I can say that I had a petition for a light rail to be build in Sydney and now they are building one, I can take the credit. You brushed over the protest question. Why? The government will probably prop them up in all fairness. They talk a fair bit with the NSW guys. I fear you are failing. You said 5 years, so when is that from 2012, 2013, now, when you made that comment? But let's be honest, most people are struggling these days, So that arguent doesn't really work in your favour.
Aaron C
Guest
@Jeff: "And still the holy grail awaits, wagering on racing legalised in China, and under the new FTA open export of horses and greyhounds." I have seen greyhounds in China bludgeoned to death with baseball bats, picked up around their necks with nooses and put in to dog meat trucks, I've seen Greyhounds boiled alive. All you see and hear is the cash register going. Says a lot about you Jeff. A lot about your people.A lot about how much you care about greyhounds when it really comes down to it.
Aaron C
Guest
Industry spent $160,000 straight off the bat as a result of our petition, investigating their own welfare. Then they hired a welfare officer for the first time. The GRNZ welfare spend was up 320% between 2013 and 2015. You think that money came out of thin air? Don't worry I know Kiwi trainers are struggling. We're just getting started, the industry had since 2013 to clean up their act, but today they still kill most of their dogs. NZ has had the chance 4 years ago that Australia has today, and NZ has failed abysmally. When this is back in front of government things will get interesting.
Nick
Guest
So you have never ever protested or praised them? Tools of the past? In your book when did protesting stop been effective? Really, really, anybody can "inform" pollies by writing an email. hahahahaha Still waiting to see where you have cost participants extra money?
jeff holland
Guest
Well this is true, the pollies know what is going on, the multinational wagering giants have now bought in UK greyhound racing to the Australian market, hopefully Trump will change the internet restrictions on wagering, meaning quite soon they will bring in US racing, and create mutually protecting wagering regimes. Thanks to the animal rights movement the commercialization of racing at an international level has been brought forward, the laws of the land have been changed to protect the animal industries from terrorist campaigns, and soon the ABC(the promotional arm of animals australia) will have its city base gutted. And still the holy grail awaits, wagering on racing legalised in China, and under the new FTA open export of horses and greyhounds. And BTW Aaron, do you really believe that Govt is going to establish a Commission 2/3rds the size of ICAC to oversee greyhounds? GRNSW has had problems sourcing sufficient integrity staff for nearly a decade, its not a job for people who want achieve something or go on to something. Remember when you go to change the world, every action has an equal and opposite reaction.
Nick
Guest
Speaking of tiny, did you see the anti greyhound protests??? I would have thought there would have been a lot more? As you guys keep telling us how many people are aganist industry?
Nick
Guest
I would like to see where you have caused the participants to have increased costs. NSW is fine, $41 million in extra funding and better welfare. I am not complaining. Imagine if the ban never happened, no extra funding and no better welfare.
Aaron C
Guest
Protest, in my view, is a tool of days passed. There's a protest every other week and politicians barely notice now. It's not indicative of true sentiment. I wouldn't regard it as a true litmus test for the publics tolerance of dog racing. The ones who showed, are there because they truly hate racing with deep conviction. Mainstream Australia doesn't really care for the standards of the greyhound racing community but they're also not inclined to march up a street yelling and waving signs. To me, having to protest is an insult to my intelligence. I despise the notion and would sooner spend that time ensuring key players at high political levels know what's going on in dog racing. It works for some, but I can think of other ways to get the job done.
Nick
Guest
What about the protests on the weekend? Not much of a turn up??? Are these guys playing the long game as well???