It was the beginning of the end for the Baird government.
The announcement by then Premier Mike Baird that his government was prepping to ban the greyhound racing industry was the catalyst for the Nationals losing Orange to the Shooters, Fishers and Farmers Party in the 2016 by-election, as well as the gradual decline in Mr Baird's popularity.
But now he's gone, and new the Premier, Gladys Berejiklian, is starting to feel the heat from the Labor Opposition in the Legislative Assembly.
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| Sonia Hornery |
Wallsend MP Sonia Hornery has joined with her Labor colleagues to debate the Motion and said Mr Baird retired, leaving Ms Berejiklian to pick up the pieces.
"Mike Baird did run away before he could face the music, now the new Premier, Gladys Berejiklian, is wearing that, which is unfortunate for her," she said.
"But, she's the Premier, and she's going to have to justify to the community how this money was spent.
"When you think that there were almost 6,000 jobs put in jeopardy in Wallsend because of this ... they would have been out of work if this ban came through.
"That the government thought it was acceptable to spend more than $1.5 million justifying an unjustifiable decision bewilders me. It seems they were operating under a set of alternative facts."
Ms Hornery said the potential revolt by the National Party - the Liberal Party's Coalition partner - as well as thousands of signatures on petitions, caused Mr Baird's backflip.
She has labelled the spending as a million dollar waste.
The Notice of Motion came on the same day as a panel - chaired by former Premier Morris Iemma - handed down its findings on the animal welfare of the greyhound industry.
More than 120 recommendations were handed down to the state government for consideration.
Mr Iemma said NSW is "so far behind Victoria and other states in caring for greyhounds".
Racing Minister Paul Toole has taken on board the panel's recommendations.
