Foley continues support for greyhounds as fight reaches climax
NEW South Wales opposition leader Luke Foley is urging all State Nationals MPs to join with Labor as the fight to save the greyhound racing industry reaches the eleventh hour.
Legislation to ban the sport within NSW from July 1, 2017, as announced by Premier Mike Baird earlier this month, is expected to go before parliament on Tuesday. On the same day, thousands of supporters from the greyhound industry are set to hold a rally at Hyde Park and present a petition opposing the ban to Foley.
With the petition thought to have close to 30,000 signatures within a matter of weeks, Foley said it sends a clear message.
“It reveals that the good people in the greyhound industry have a lot of community support,” Foley told Australian Racing Greyhound.
“What impact it will have on the parliamentary vote I don't know and I have to make the point that expressions of sympathy from members of parliament are nice, but ultimately useless…MPs need to vote against the ban.
“I have had private discussions with a number of [National Party MPs] and I am encouraging them to work with us to save this industry and to give it a future operating to very high standards of animal welfare.
“But at this stage I just don't know how many will come with us.”
Foley was highly critical of National Party Leader Troy Grant, the Deputy Premier and Minister for Racing, for agreeing to go along with Baird's ban which will result in the loss of more than 1700 full time jobs, more than 1000 of which are in regional areas.
“I think this entire exercise reflects badly on Mr Grant…[he] has completely sold out regional communities,” Foley said.
“A majority of tracks are in the bush…for the life of me I cannot understand a National Party leader supporting a shut down of an industry that is worth $335 million a year in our state and provides pleasure to many tens of thousands of people.
“I can understand that greyhound racing has never formed part of Mike Baird's life experience, but there is no excuse for the National Party leader because greyhound racing is an important part of the social fabric of so many country towns.
“He should not have allowed the Liberal leader to get away with this.”
Foley also slammed the controlling body of the sport, Greyhound Racing NSW (GRNSW), for failing to ensure animal welfare and integrity standards were maintained at a high level.
“The good people, the thousands of good men and women, have been let down by their regulator,” he said.
“There is nothing inherently cruel about greyhound racing as such. If there has been a failure to stamp out acts of animal cruelty then that has been a failure of the government appointed regulator.
“Particularly when you consider government coffers are boosted by over $30 million every year by revenue from greyhound racing, it is a government responsibility to ensure that our laws, regulations and resources are there to ensure animal welfare is protected.
“Many people are shattered and devastated… people are still shocked and somewhat disbelieving… I am commonly asked how this can happen in a free and democratic country, that an entire industry is outlawed by a government?
“…it was done in a sneaky and underhanded way.”
Foley re-iterated that a total closure of the industry would have a devastating impact, with the Labor Party leader confident that there are steps which could be taken to clean up the sport.
“I think the industry has to be given a chance,” Foley said.
“I do think there is a model there that can work into the future. An integrity commission that looks after the regulatory functions and is seperate to a body like GRNSW which looks after the corporate end is a sensible suggestion.
“It's obscene that they are looking to partner with a crematorium, such will be the level of wastage under Mr Baird's plan.
“What the Premier tells us is an animal welfare plan will probably see the mass slaughter of up to 12,000 greyhounds.
“There are a range of options for the future and none of them have to involve a total shutdown of the industry next year and I am very critical of the fact that Mr Baird and Mr Grant have failed to consider options beyond a total shutdown at the end of June.”
‘Luke Foley’. A modern day Statesman. Another ‘Jack Lang’ RIP.
We miss you Jack.
http://www.dailytelegraph.com.au/news/nsw/mike-bairds-premiership-is-rooted-in-family-and-faith/news-story/0b544a2ca453fd61afcb1c96e69722a6
CHRISTIANITY AND POLITICS AND THE SALE OF THE ENTIRE ELECTRICITY SUPPLY OF NSW……………bugger,why did O’FARRELL lose that bet.
and the opening story of the DADS FRIEND who lost his son in a car accident.
just posted a VID on a guy called MARK….a dog guy,heart condition,lose his dogs he gives up his battle for life.
WHY NOT GIVE HIM A VISIT MIKE BAIRD.
and for GODS sake, Christianity is the topic of the year presently.
don’t have a lot of happy days in his life actually,does he.
FOLEY, go get ’em son.
:DAILY TELEGRAPH SUNDAY….. ” A government source said Mr Grant would not support a conscience vote, but would use the party room meeting to go over the facts of the report “ ” Mr Baird would use an EXTRAORDINARY meeting of the Liberals tomorrow to do the same and remind everyone this is pure and simple about animal cruelty the source stated WELL,WELL WELL, THE Indians ARE IN pow-wow status. obviously trying to appease everyone,and it looks like wont be easy to get those floor walk crossovers? sure our legal beagle has considered this move….come on TUESDAY. I am… Read more »
lone widow uuuhhhmmm, we shall see TUESDAY lone widow.
GRANT IS A BLIND GOOSE.
how many times does he have to be instructed HIS PRECIOUS REPORT IS FLAWED…..and if the members believe that,then god help them all.
is that sheep I see jumping in yonder meadow?nice formation there lads.
dogem53 lone widow They are from the same seat the Big Man would not have copped this Bullshit in his day !
Will you be doing a story on Janet Silver being disqualified for 9 months due to poor conditions of her stables and such poor treatment of one greyhound it had to be put down? Is this the ‘bad apple’ people keep mentioning? … I always find it funny, you never hear those in the industry call people out by name, those who are dragging the industry down. Don’t dob in your mates hey? Why not call her a scumbag …. anyone who treats a greyhound so poorly it has to be put down deserves more than 9 months disqualification …
THIS STORY COMES OUT SUNDAY AT 8pm YET AGAIN THE ABC SOME HOW GETS THE PHOTOS AND STORY READ THE STORY ITS BAD BUT WHY WASNT HIS KENNELS INSPECTED BY THE DODGY PAUL NEWSON POINT 1 WHY DIDNT PAUL NEWSON HAVE THE KENNELS INSPECTED BY GRNSW OFFICER LOOKS LIKE THERE IS NO KENNELS AT ALL IN THE SHED 2. THIS BLOKE WAS CAUGHT AUGUST 2015 A YR AGO AMD THEN CHARGED MARCH THIS YEAR BUT NOTHING REPORTED ON GRNSW WEBSITE 3.THE GUY HAS HAD ONE DOG RACE IN 2015 SAME DOG ONLY 4 TIMES SO OTHER 4 DOGS WERE PETS… Read more »
DaveSampson75 we as trainers totally agree dave its the GOVERNMENT giving these poor disqualifcations to the people doing the wrong thing
Paul Newson was put into GRNSW by MIKE BAIRD AND THE RACING MINISTER TROY GRANT the public don’t see this as a failed GOVERNMENT just failed greyhound people owners and trainers ect why do you think dave we as trainers and owners are so PISsSED off
dogem53 Church bahaha you may see Mike Baird there he in bed with Hillsong Brian Huston whos old man is a pedophile old mikey baird don’t
mind who he jumps into bed with !!!!!!!!!!!!!!
DaveSampson75 well dave, lets see. how many OTHER BREEDS have similar owners doing cruel things to there animals?no one can control all of them DAVE. vids showing neighbours smashing dogs on table tops,hanging up by there necks,kicking,smothering, you bloody well name it.just passes in the night and virtually a slap on the wrist for doing such deeds. BUT OH NO DAVE, a greyhound mistreated makes world news,and the local feeder the all conquering ABC who needs shock and awe to even get a few people to watch its station,leads the pack with well organised and corrupted participants pre-planning disclosures. WITH… Read more »
DaveSampson75 I CHALLENGE YOU dave TO BACK YOUR KEYBOARD.
IF YOU KNOW NAMES, CALL THEM OUT……..before there court cases come up.
bet you don’t son. no one with a brain would. its a simple reason why they don’t.
ask DERRYN HINCH that same question son. simpleton you are.
impact impact.
this is where NEWSON is a dumb arse,
IT WAS ON HIS WATCH. WHY DID HE NOT REACT AND TAKECHARGE AND DO WHAT HE NOW SAYS WAS ”NEVER DONE” BY GRNSW……..what an absolute clutz this guy is.
NEWSON……IT WAS ON YOUR WATCH….YOU GOT PAID TO DO A JOB,AND YOU REFUSED TO FOLLOW UP……NOT US LOOKING BAD SON, IT IS YOU. UNDERSTAND IT IS YOU.
DaveSampson75 AND DAVE.
HAVE YOU FORGOTTEN THE PADDOCK OF HORSES LEFT MALNOURISHED RECENTLY IN VICTORIA> OF COURSE YOU HAVE,TUNNEL VISION DOES THAT,BUT BECAUSE ITS NOT A GREY HOUND STORY,YOU BYPASS SUCH DETAILS.
you are a foll DAVE, but keep coming back, we enjoy your small contributions.
I can see more DRIP-FED TO ABC stories coming over next few weeks. this is a planned attack by BAIRD.GRANT.NEWSON/AA for sure. instead of reacting when these incidents happened,they have held back for this commission report to be handed down,knowing full well we would kick up a storm,then slowly drip-feed these types of stories to smear any attempts to get it over turned. THIS IS CALLED PARLIAMENTARY PRIVILIGE…..protected under there so called benefits of being in parliament,to slur,lie,slander and destroy. they have done this on many subjects over time. THEY ARE POLITICIANS people, remember them? so now we shall see… Read more »
Dave who’s the scumbags in this promotion of the RSPCA last night on the ABC ,where else. A story on a trainer alleged miss treatment of his Greyhounds and he was prosecuted and Fined suspend by GRNSW . Now if this person was deemed unfit why was his Greyhounds handed back to him by the RSPCA ?.Dave I was part of a Team of Council Rangers, RSPCA Inspectors who raided a puppy farm at Charmhaven on the Central Coast some few years ago the conditions these poor dogs were under were just hideous 35 puppies in 3ft above ground outside… Read more »
BobWhitelaw well BOB,thank god for delving people like yourself. that now closes the case in my eyes. so why does BAIRD/GRANT want to raise a settled case of neglect……not cruelty,neglect?he paid k in fees and fines,and RSPCAeducated the man and the shed is gone. that’s it. rspca must have been happy to return dogs back to him………..NO MENTION OF THAT IN ABC REPORT. because they,baird/grant, are floundering in a stormy sea and they are going down for there last gasps. urgent help needed. ABC,where are you,we need saving. crikey,the more I read about this GOVERNMENT OF NSW the more I… Read more »
dogem53 DaveSampson75 Not true. Don’t worry, the horses and the people associated with them are next on the hit list. If they think its just a ‘greyhound’ problem, they are very very much mistaken.
BobWhitelaw ” Now if this person was deemed unfit why was his Greyhounds handed back to him by the RSPCA ” – Because the RSPCA aren’t overlords with all encompassing powers. Unless the dogs are on their last legs, legally there is not much they can do. Also they always try to give the owner a chance to improve conditions, so the RSPCA can’t win either way. If they took the dogs, you’d be complaining about overreach. Until they change the laws on puppy farms, there is little the RSPCA can do. But I like you, would happily see puppy farms shut… Read more »
BobWhitelaw This is just the usual RSPCA “justifying it’s own existence” for decades once every 18 months or so they hunt around for some person who can barely afford to feed themselves and go to their home selectively showing grotty areas and demonise them just to show what a great job they are doing. Two vets have told me that until a few years ago they were allegedly the major suppliers of puppies to experimental labs (must have got them from the puppy farms they raided). They should be using their profits to offer free or if you can afford… Read more »
DaveSampson75 No this is not a horse site.
DaveSampson75 dogem53 “hit list” is that a threat? After we run home to tell Mummy we might have to go to the Police about that.
Deborah555 BobWhitelaw AND NOW THAT SAME GUY,WHO HAS DONE HIS TIME AND PAID HIS FINES,GETS HIS NAME AND PERSON DRAGGED AGAIN?
A CHURCH BELIEVER WHO WANTS TO BE A REVEREND,DOES THIS TO A FELLOW HUMAN?
UNDERSTAND THIS…….THE GUY HAS SERVED HIS TIME………SOMEONE NEEDS TO DRAW ATTENTION TO THIS AND EVEN ALLOW THE GUY THE CHANCE TO ”INTERACT LEGALLY” WITH BAIRD & CO.
UN…….BELIEVABLE THIS GUY.
I SUPPOSE THIS IS WHAT HAPPENS WHEN UNDER PRESSURE. BETTER GET USED TO THAT.
IF I WAS THIS GENT,I WOULD SEEK LEGAL COUNSEL AS TO DAMAGES TO HIS IMAGE.
RSPCA,YOU INCLUDED.
DaveSampson75 BobWhitelaw ” Because the RSPCA aren’t overlords with all encompassing powers.”
OH DAVE, YOU HAVE SLIPPED UP AGAIN SON. THAT QUOTE IS FROM YOU,NOW READ WHAT YOU SAID,AND WONDER WHY I DRAW ATTENTION TO IT……GO ON,HAVE A THINK OF WHAT YOU SAID.
don’t have powers hey!
only when it comes to greyhound it seems. the more you write the more I feel you are lost. ducking and diving,eventually you get nabbed,and down ya go son. counting down,10,9,8………
dogem53 Deborah555 BobWhitelaw Exactly but they pick their mark this bloke’s real crime was being poor and not being able to afford a vet and they would be aware he probably would not have the money to pay a lawyer ( but I think a certain CEO and Chief Steward might) that should be interesting. Yes the more this goes on the more I think this is about class warfare. What about that pathetic Newson allegedly scared of the computer nerds at Greyhound Data ( amazing web site) if these people can have him running to the Police fearing for his life I… Read more »
dogem53 DaveSampson75 BobWhitelaw What Dave said is correct. The RSPCA is limited by animal welfare legislation which is very weak when it comes to animals in commercial industries. If your argument against this assertion is that the greyhound industry is being shut down, that’s not happening because of any powers the RSPCA has, it’s happening because the NSW government has made a decision. The RSPCA supports much better protections for animals than they are actually able to ensure under law. It’s also not very useful to make mention of how much money is going into the RSPCA unless you can demonstrate that… Read more »
RSPCA is about making money not animal welfare they are asking dollars a day to look after a greyhound in their care plus other cost associated while in their custody adds up to over per week .We do the same here at our respite and retirement center at per week with no support from GRNSW with a on call Greyhound Vet 24.7 this equates to dollars a day.I’ll challenge the RSPCA to match it out of their Millions in reserve like i said before they stink of HYPOCRISY what about the lady who had here PET RABBIT put down by… Read more »
Deborah555 BobWhitelaw It’s very easy to say they should be offering a service for free or at a cheaper price when you have no insights into their operating costs. Veterinary services are not covered by medicare, they are extremely expensive, just as human medical services are extremely expensive, the difference is everyone subsidises them heavily through the tax system. What a surprise that you haven’t met too many vets that offer their services for free, I haven’t met many coffee shops that offer me coffee for free either. I don’t find this confusing. Besides, most vets I know, and my partner… Read more »
Hugh_ dogem53 DaveSampson75 BobWhitelaw It may come as a surprise to you Hugh but we do understand the difference between cash flow and profits. Their balance sheet is available and their CEO takes quite a bit out of it and whilst he is not legally responsible for attempting to close down the greyhound racing he is obviously happy to help even to the point where someone who has been fined and paid the fine is now being demonised in the press yet again. His real crime was being poor.Plus his statement “they are a hard breed to rehome” in the middle of this… Read more »
Hugh_ Deborah555 BobWhitelaw They did offer this service for many years Hugh. What I would like from the CEO of the RSPCA is to get back to his job -his job is not to provide a slow drip of issues that have already been dealt with to further the interest of his political buddies and himself of course. Your presumption that you are the only person who knows anything and you are dealing with ignorant people really annoys me Hugh. I was also not criticising vets I was defending some-one who could not afford one and most coffee shops are not government… Read more »
Alan jones on greyhound ban from about the 37 min mark for about 8 mins http://www.2gb.com/audioplayer/194036HUGH/DAVID…..shut ya keyboards down and just listen for a while. can ya do that lads? and if you think ALAN JONES is a greyhound enthusiast,you are way off the mark. you guys are fighting over one issue,we are fighting over the injustice of shutting down an entire industry. believe it or not,they are two different identities. so ,please,sit down and listen and see it as it really is. this is what we are fighting for. JUSTICE AND TRUTH. and if one of you dares mention that stupid… Read more »
http://www.grv.org.au/news/2016/08/01/grv-appoints-gm-integrity/ and HUGH/DAVID…….something else to read for the opportunity to see and understand that REOFRM is not just a word,with the right people,it actually works guiys. this new appointment,like majority of appointments at GRV,are outsiders. people who have no real GREYHOUND EXPERIENCE,THEY HAVE UNBIASED BUSINESS ACUMEN,and bring that successful business acumen to a troubled industry,and pleased to be part of an organisation THAT WANT TO CLEAN UP ITS IMAGE. GUYS,DO YOU UNDERSTAND THE MESSAGE HERE? REFORM WORKS. it wont make you activists happy,but if the industry is to exist,it has to make changes,and GRV are doing this. so GRNSW can… Read more »
Deborah555 Hugh_ dogem53 DaveSampson75 BobWhitelaw “Their balance sheet is available and their CEO takes quite a bit out of it” – That’s great, but that’s not what bob said, he just said “they earned over 100 million” which is not a nuanced criticism, it’s a statement without context, that’s what I was pointing out. “he is obviously happy to help even to the point where someone who has been fined and paid the fine is now being demonised in the press yet again” – Not sure what the press demonising someone has to do with it the RSPCA CEO, the press can say what… Read more »
Deborah555 Hugh_ BobWhitelaw Feel free to be annoyed, I don’t really care. I don’t think I know everything, I’m sure there are many aspects of these debates about which you know more than me. I argue mostly about points of principle in these debates, and offer some facts if I feel confident in them. My issue with these particular comments is that your criticisms lack substance. You’re saying they once offered this service and now they don’t. That’s not much of a criticism. They may have stopped providing this service for free because it became no longer financially viable to do so,… Read more »
BobWhitelaw If you’re claiming that they are running a financially inefficient operation, that’s fine, but it doesn’t equate to hypocrisy. It’s also hard to know how to interpret your comments, are you comparing apples to apples or apples to oranges? You say they are “asking” for a day, is this a commercial for-profit service they are operating? Is the greyhound respite and retirement centre a commercial for-profit operation? Or are you saying that’s how much it costs them to look after a dog they are housing temporarily while they try to adopt it out, just like all the other animals in… Read more »
LOL Hugh They are death camps not shelters how many do the have there that are older then 5 years in human terms ,well here which specialize in Greyhounds and their ages range 3 years to 16 years and that’s just one village .Sorry your camp carries the Green Dream we carry love for one particular breed that are looking at long life no matter what with us and this done for no profit what so ever ! Hugh stop trying to justify their killing of good healthy animals, sorry mate your excuse don’t wash with a lot of… Read more »
BobWhitelaw Bob, I wasn’t justifying or making excuses, I was asking genuine questions in at attempt to clarify what you were suggesting. It’s hard to judge the merit of what you say when you only provide vague details.
But let’s leave it, I’d forgotten how impossible it is to communicate with you. All I can suggest is that you take a deep breath, calm down, and read everything slowly out loud to yourself.
Hugh_ BobWhitelaw Ditto
Its interesting that the final report on the mass grave at Keinbah was forwarded to GRNSW some weeks ago, with the Media jumping straight onto to it and it was front page news everywhere with Newson playing up to the media.The people who complete the investigations are at disbelief that no one person has charged as yet by GRNSW. A GRNSW insider has ask how many dogs of all breeds are buried in peoples back yards around the State
BobWhitelaw Maybe because it is not illegal to shoot a dog it is only illegal if you do it with an unlicensed firearm. The people carrying out the investigations were I believe forensic specialists not the Police. As for the GRNSW person allegedly asking this question it would seem to be a valid query.
Deborah555 BobWhitelaw Well if that’s the case why did GRNSW waste over thousand knowing that no participant would be held accountable for what took place there. As a former GRNSW board member believes it was a beat up, and Newson was put their by Grant to close down the industry. We wonder if Baird will close down Churches after the Royal Commission into Child Sex Abuse within the Churches Mr Baird is from the religious right? just think what some of those Churches would be worth to developers in some prime locations in Sydney’s CBD and the cash it would raise… Read more »
BobWhitelaw Deborah555 Bob a man as smart and politically astute as you knows full well why they did it. Your motives and passionate, not just beliefs, but hands on- own money concept to rehoming is not questionable but theirs is, just another bit of demonising the dog people and wasting the tax payers money to further their own agenda.
Wouldn’t surprise me if he has had the assessors in to value every bit of church land, but then again he is a good Catholic boy who seems to think the God would like to retire and have him take the job.
Deborah555 I thought he was from the Jewish faith