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 Protest Heads To Sydney

BY IAN CROUCH

 Four busloads of greyhound trainers and owners have set off from The Gardens track to take part in today's protest rally in Sydney.

Legislation is being introduced to state parliament today to ban the sport amid allegations of live baiting and mass killings of under-performing dogs.

The legislation could be halted in its tracks if Nationals MP's decide to cross the floor in defiance of their government colleagues.

However, Hunter trainer and industry spokesperson, Kevin Gordon says Nationals MPs are being denied a conscience vote on the issue.

"Every single National is on side - whether they'll actually cross the floor is a completely different story. Historically says they won't and I can understand that - that they don't want to go against their party leader, try Grant who has demanded that there's no conscience vote, which in my opinion is a disgrace," he said.

Kevin Gordon Photo courtesy theherald.com.au

Hunter Greyhound Breeders and Trainers Fight Ban

BY IAN CROUCH

 The Hunter's greyhound trainers and breeders have joined forces to fight the state government's ban on the sport.

More than 400 people who are involved in the industry gathered at Warners Bay yesterday for a crisis meeting to unite in opposition.

Labor MP's Sonia Hornery and Jodie Harrison have thrown their support behind them, vowing to fight Mike Baird's legislation.


Labor Leader Luke Foley has promised to save the greyhound racing industry.


"... 10 to 20 per cent of greyhound trainers have engaged in live baiting. That means 80 to 90 per cent have done the right thing and I don't want them to suffer, to have their industry wiped out because of the actions of a small minority", he said.


Yesterday's meeting at Warners Bay endorsed long-term greyhound breeder, Kevin Gordon to be the Hunter's voice in a newly-formed committee to lobby National Party MP's to cross the floor to defeat legislation banning greyhound racing in NSW.


He's called into question the Special Commission of Inquiry's findings that between 50,000 and 70,000 greyhounds were killed over the past 12 years because they were too slow. Kevin Gordon says tracking numbers of greyhounds wasn't undertaken by the industry until 15 months ago. He maintains these figures include greyhounds who died of natural causes over the 12 year period as well as greyhounds that were exported to New Zealand or sold interstate, along with the hundreds of thousands of greyhounds over the years who were kept as pets by their trainers after they retired from racing.

"I spoke to a breeder in the Hunter Valley yesterday who has 25 greyhounds that he has kept as pets. Unfortunately those pets hadn't been registered as being kept as pets, so they're in this fictitious number. So the number is just false", he said.

Kevin Gordon Addresses Yesterday's Meeting [image Newcastle Herald}