Greyhound clubs & GBOTA put faith in lobbying to save sport

Members of the NSW greyhound racing industry have gathered in western Sydney as clubs unite to fight the Baird government's ban.

Up to 50 people including representatives from greyhound clubs and tracks across the state gathered at the Greyhound Social Club's headquarters at Yagoona on Tuesday.

Race Club general manager Brad Adam said a five-person steering committee had been formed to be the voice of local clubs.

“Our main aim is to unite the clubs, which we have,” he told attendees.

“We are all in this together and we're all going to fight this together.”

The government had chosen to close without consultation an entire industry which has 15,000 participants and 10,000 employees, and makes an economic contribution of at least $335 million per year, he said.

“The part that is so difficult to swallow – not one piece of consultation with the people affected in such a devastating fashion by that decision,” he told the meeting.

The government's shock announcement that the sport would be banned from mid next year came after a Special Commission of report found “chilling” evidence of animal cruelty within the industry, including and mass killings.

Mr Scott said there was an alternative “ journey” outlined in 79 of the report's 80 recommendations which would ensure an appropriately regulated, properly supervised sport “with the highest possible commitment to an framework”.

“We are being treated unfairly, we are being treated unreasonably, and good, good people are being hurt in an unprecedented manner,” Mr Scott said.

The clubs have engaged a government relations and political strategy team headed by Barton Deakin and a legal team headed by former federal solicitor-general David Bennett QC.

Mr Scott said these appointments had been funded by the but the arrangement would change to a trust structure.

He said the campaign will have a simple message: save our greyhounds.

“The challenge is enormous,” he told industry members.

“We have a premier who has placed his brand on this decision.

“He needs to understand that there is an alternative and that we wish to engage with him in speaking to that alternative.”

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Peter Bell
Peter Bell
7 years ago

GRNSW should be running a similar case on the same grounds. An attack from separate paths.

But Paul Newson cant do that because he was “planted” there by the government to close greyhound racing down. 

The decision was made along time ago. You mark my word. 

Thats for the same reason he accepted 10% of tax parity when we were turning over 22% of turnover.