Hunter greyhound trainers are considering their futures after legislation banning the practice was passed in parliament in the early hours of this morning.
Debate in parliament went for almost 12 hours with three National Party MPs crossing the floor in protest. The Baird Government eventually passed this bill 49 votes 30 at around 4am this morning.
The bill had previously been passed in the Upper House following a similar lengthy debate.
Parliamentary Secretary for the Hunter, Scot MacDonald said it was a difficult decision but the outcome is favourable.
"We've got a responsibility to look at it on a statewide basis and the industry had been given many opportunities to reform itself."
"But, it was proven time and time again that the element in the industry that was leading the industry was determined to deceive the government, the regulators, the RSPCA and even their members."
Member for Wallsend Sonia Horney who earlier in August presented a petition of 37,000 signatures opposing the ban said, the economic impacts that will follow the closure of The Gardens racetrack in Wallsend is concerning.
"The economy of Wallsend is going to loose about 17.6 million dollars a year once The Gardens is taken away from our community."
Kevin Gordon from the Alliance of Greyhound Racing said, the impacts of the ban go much deeper than just the trainers.
"We are saying that the impacts will go so deep potentially tens of thousands of jobs will be lost in New South Wales at a time where unemployment is getting higher."
The greyhound racing prohibition Bill carries penalties of up to a years jail for those who participate in the practice in New South Wales after July 1, 2017.
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| Photo courtesy of the ABC. |
