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."

Hunter Greyhound Racing Industry Left Reeling After Ban On Sport

BY IAN CROUCH

 The Hunter's Greyhound Industry believes the Baird Government's decision to shut down the sport is grossly unfair.

From July next year, Greyhound Racing will be banned in NSW following reports of widespread live baiting and the mass slaughter of dogs for being too slow.

However, The Gardens Chairman, Brett Lazarini says the entire industry is being punished for the crimes of a select few.


Well-known Cessnock trainer, Bob Whitelaw says they're not going to take the decision lying down.

"It's going to destroy a lot of families and a lot of lives across NSW. The racing industry for many years at different levels has been split. I think what it's done it will bring the industry and they'll fight this to the finish", he said.

Meanwhile, the decision has prompted animal welfare groups to call for a nationwide ban on Greyhound racing.


"I can only hope that this reverberates around the country. The only way to stop live baiting, and we've seen those disgraceful images, is to end greyhound racing - not just  in NSW, but indeed the country", RSPCA NSW Chief Executive, Steve Coleman said.