Greyhound racing "will be shut down in the Australian state of New South Wales" from July '17 after a state parliamentary inquiry found "overwhelming evidence of animal cruelty," according to the AP. The inquiry’s report found between 48,000 and 68,000 greyhounds were killed in the state in the past 12 years "because they were deemed uncompetitive." It also found up to 20% of trainers had engaged in "live baiting" -- feeding live animals to the dogs -- and that "on average 180 greyhounds a year suffered critical injuries during races." State Premier Mike Baird said, "In response to widespread illegal and unconscionable activity ... I can today announce an end to greyhound racing." Baird said that his government, "the first state administration to ban greyhound racing in the country," would announce detailed plans for the shutdown later this year following consultation with the industry and animal welfare organizations. He said that the move "would include a welfare plan for existing greyhounds, including opportunities for re-homing," a transition arrangement for existing Greyhound Racing New South Wales assets, including race tracks to ensure they are used as open public space (AP, 7/7). In Sydney, Brendan Cormick reported stemming from the expose by the ABC’s Four Corners, "highlighting the practice of live-baiting among a minority of trainers and the deaths of uncompetitive greyhounds," a special commission of inquiry reported its findings last month. An option to reform the industry "was overlooked." The commission cited "integrity and governance failings on top of systemic animal cruelty." Live-baiting "is nothing new." It had been "going on for decades." Shutting down the industry "will close more than 30 clubs and eliminate thousands of jobs, the impact to be felt directly and indirectly." Greyhound racing "provides significant turnover in the twilight zone and evening." It was "no surprise" Tabcorp’s shares were down 4.3% at the close of trading on Thursday (THE AUSTRALIAN, 7/8).
FULL SUPPORT IN VICTORIA: In Melbourne, Patrick Bartley reported "just hours after the NSW government said it would scrap greyhound racing," the Victorian government has declared its "full support" for the sport. Acting Racing Minister Jill Hennessy said, "The government has no plans to ban greyhound racing in Victoria. The Victorian greyhound racing industry under [Greyhound Racing Victoria Chair] Bernie Carolan and Alan Clayton has taken great strides in reforming the industry." Carolan said on Thursday, "The closure of the NSW industry will put immense regulatory, compliance, rehoming and operational pressures on other states, especially Victoria, as they handle a potential influx of new participants and dogs." He added that greyhound racing in Victoria employed more than 3,000 people, "generated many indirect jobs in regional Victoria" and added more than A$315M ($236M) to the economy (THE AGE, 7/8).
ON THE DEFENSIVE: The NEW ZEALAND HERALD reported New Zealand's greyhound racing body is defending the sport as it is practiced in New Zealand after the announcement "it would be banned" in NSW. Greyhound Racing New Zealand CEO Phil Holden defended the sport, saying the racing industry in New Zealand was "fundamentally different" to Australia and operated under a "different regulatory framework." Holden: "Unlike Australia, New Zealand has an independent body, the Racing Integrity Unit (RIU), which monitors dog racing, including undertaking kennel inspections, drug testing, race day attendance and investigations" (NZ HERALD, 7/8).
'NO COMPARISON': In Sydney, Pengilly & Roots reported thoroughbred and harness racing officials "are confident the imminent closure of the greyhound racing industry in NSW" will not "adversely impact their revenue streams while defending their sports' animal welfare practices." Thoroughbred and harness racing are "likely to come under the increased glare of animal activists and Macquarie Street powerbrokers." And both have "already sought to tighten their animal welfare model in recent months, shying away from any comparisons with the embattled greyhound code" (SYDNEY MORNING HERALD, 7/7).
POLITICAL MOVE?: Pengilly reported in a separate piece the timing of the decision to close NSW's greyhound racing industry "has been slammed as a political plot, which would have robbed the Liberal Party any chance of re-election if it had been made earlier," according to the chair of a key industry group. Greyhound Racing Industry Consultation Group Chair Ron Arnold described Baird's mandate to shut down the sport by June 30 next year as "political" after he and Deputy Premier Troy Grant "dropped the bombshell on Thursday morning." Arnold said, "I have got no doubt this is a political decision. There is no way they would have announced this last week because Malcolm Turnbull would have no chance of being prime minister and they need to appease the minor parties. The racing fabric has been a major part of Australian culture. If we had sat on our hands for 18 months and done nothing then we would say, 'OK, fair enough,' but there were major reforms put in place" (SMH, 7/7).
