Hunter greyhound owners and trainers facing the loss of their industry look set to be thrown a lifeline.
Premier Mike Baird is expected to announce a backdown on parts of the greyhound racing ban in the face of a voter backlash and assurances from the industry the mass slaughter of dogs will stop.
The Daily Telegraph says he'll extend a trial period for racing in the state tomorrow while introducing tougher industry standards.
But, Greens MP, Mehreen Faruqi says she's sceptical about the industry's assurances.
"Historically, the industry has given guarantees before and not reformed, and one of these guarantees was actually a commitment to greater transparency and improving animal welfare. They gave this guarantee for 10 years, but nothing improved," she said.
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| Mehreen Faruqi |
However, Labor MP for Wallsend, Sonia Hornery is calling on the Premier to go a step further and overturn the ban on the greyhound racing industry, saying the decision was rushed and will ultimately cause enormous damage to the local economy, with greyhound racing contributing $17.69 million to the Wallsend economy each year.
More than 6000 people in Wallsend signed a petition calling on the government to overturn the ban, with more than 37,000 signing it across NSW.
"It is clear from consulting the community that a clear majority of people want the ban overturned," she said.
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| Sonia Hornery |
