Hunter Greyhound Racing identities banned

BY JESSICA ROUSE

Thomas Pullman, a licensed Hunter Greyhound trainer has been banned from the sport for 15 years after being found to have played a major part in the mass greyhound grave site uncovered near Cessnock.

The Greyhound Racing NSW inquiry into the remains of 99 dogs found at the Keinbah Trial Track in 2015 has found that five trainers were responsible including Mr Pullman.

He ran the trial track between 2009 and 2015 and has had the lengthy ban imposed for being found to have killed and buried a "substantial number" of the 99 greyhounds found, failing to provide veterinary attention, providing false and misleading statements and engaging in conduct detrimental to the racing industry.

His wife Helen was also found guilty of providing false and misleading statements in regards to the grave site and was disqualified for four years.

It appears to have been a family affair - Mr Pullman's daughter Kayla Spliet was disqualified for four years and her husband Corey was disqualified for two years. Both for providing false and misleading statements.

Lastly an employee of the track Wayne Weiss was disqualified for three years.

All will be notified about their rights of appeal.

Image smh.com.au

Investigations into live baiting allegations continue

BY SARAH BARONOWSKI

Greyhound Racing NSW and the RSPCA are investigating fresh allegations of live baiting after three dead rabbits were found at a greyhound training centre in Cessnock.

The RSPCA have performed a post-mortem examination on the rabbits to determine if this was a case of animal cruelty.

Chief Inspector of RSPCA NSW, David O'Shaughnessy says they're currently waiting on results before investigations continue.

"We're hoping that the post mortem will indicate cause of death, approximate time of death and the circumstances surrounding the death of those animals and that will enable us to further determine whether or not there were offences committed under the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals Act," he said.

"We await the outcome of the post-mortem examination before we're able to sort of determine what direction further enquiries might take."

According to the Chief Inspector, if evidence of live baiting is found "the maximum penalties would be $22, 000 fines for individuals and/or up to two years imprisonment."

The RSPCA encourages anyone to report their concerns on live baiting.

Dead rabbits spark live baiting fears

BY IAN CROUCH

Fresh allegations of live baiting have surfaced in the Hunter's Greyhound racing industry after three dead rabbits were found on a property in Cessnock.

The rabbits were found near a dog training area and authorities have suspended a man over the incident.

Greyhound Racing NSW says it's working with the RSPCA to determine if any criminal charges should be laid for animal cruelty.

The Hunter reacts as greyhound ban lifted

BY JACINTA LEE

There have been mixed reactions in the Hunter to news the greyhound racing ban has been lifted statewide.

It follows from Premier Mike Baird's announcement yesterday he "got it wrong," after signing off on a plan to reverse the decision.

Local trainer Bob Whitelaw said he welcomes the backflip, but he claims the government's image has been tarnished.

"I think he's done himself a lot of damage and done the government a lot of damage. I've got no doubt about that," he said.

"It's good to see that the Premier has admitted he was wrong."

Meanwhile, Scot Macdonald, Parliamentary Secretary for the Hunter, says the NSW government intends to take a hard line with the industry from here on out.

"This is not a free hand for the industry," he said. "There are very, very high expectations about the greyhound industry and how it conducts itself going forward."

Hunter greyhound racers concerned following passing of ban

BY JARROD MELMETH

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.

Photo courtesy of the ABC.

Greyhound Racing No More

BY BRIDGET GUNN

The Liberal Government has announced that they will be completely shutting down the industry of Greyhound racing as of July 2017.

Parliamentary Secretary for the Hunter, Scot Macdonald, says it was a difficult decision to make, but the Government says there is no possibility of merely reforming the controversial industry.

"The Government was left with no possible alternative but to shut down the industry so we have decided from the 1st of July next year, greyhound racing and betting will be banned."

Greyhound racing
Source: 2gb

MP Sonia Hornery calls for Greyhound ban to be discussed in NSW Parliament

BY SARAH BARONOWSKI

Following the State Government's recent ban on greyhound racing, State Member for Wallsend Sonia Hornery is calling for the issue to be contested in the NSW Parliament.

State Member for Wallsend, Sonia Hornery
[Image: NSW Parliament]

The MP firmly believes a parliamentary debate can help introduce stronger regulations to the industry to ensure the prevention of animal cruelty while allowing those involved in racing to maintain their jobs.

Sonia Hornery says the Baird Government's sudden decision to completely shut down the industry will affect the livelihoods of HUNTER residents.

"I have great concern for the livelihoods of workers in the Hunter," she said. "Fifty people in the Wallsend area rely on their jobs at The Gardens.

"If they were to lose their income because of this, where will they find another job?"

According to the MP, workers and operators are not the only ones who will be affected by this decision.

"We're also talking about the vet industry, we're talking about soccer that plays at the greyhounds for years, we're talking about the club itself, we're talking about the Asian restaurant that relies on the patrons of the Gardens for their livelihoods," she says.

"So it's not only impacting on the fifty people who rely on the greyhounds at Wallsend, it's all of those other people who will lose their job."
In order to prevent job losses, the MP says a parliamentary inquiry should be implemented.

"What I would like to see is this inquiry into the industry discussed in Parliament," she says. "Consultation and more information is needed before decisions like this are made.

"It should have been discussed by all of our parliamentarians so that we can talk about the impact on us."

The Gardens in Newcastle [Image: Newcastle Herald]

For Sonia Hornery, the Baird Government's decision is an unfair one and impacts those who abide by the laws in an attempt to punish the few who do not. She says it is the bad operators who should be targeted as generalisations put the majority of workers at a disadvantage.

"Eighty percent of the people in this industry love their pets and look after them," she says. "Why should they be negatively affected by the twenty percent?

"Let's improve regulations so we get rid of the twenty percent of miscreants and clean up the industry."