Mike Baird stands by his decision to ban greyhound racing

PREMIER is determined in his mission to end greyhound racing in NSW, repeating his stance at a press conference on Thursday, exactly one week after his bombshell announcement shook the greyhound industry to its core.

Having met with industry representatives throughout the day, Baird said he was still confident in his decision which will see the sport become illegal as of July 1, 2017.

“Today the Deputy Premier (Troy Grant) and I have had a difficult, but constructive and necessary meeting with the industry,” Baird said.

“This is not an easy time, we understand the difficulties the industry is facing and we are determined to do everything we can to support them in the transition.

“In the discussion with the industry we made it very clear to them that this was not an easy decision.

“It weighed heavy on our hearts as we made the decision, but we have made it.

“We also said to them very clearly that we want to work with them in the transition on two fronts; both with the welfare with the dogs and how we support them, and at the same time how we help and support those within the industry.”

Baird also announced John Keniry as the person in charge of a task force which has been put in place to oversee the close down of the industry.

“What we will be looking at over the next few months is talking to people as widely as we can so we understand the issues and then putting together a package which hopefully will provide a smooth transition for this industry,” Keniry said.

“We will focused on working with all the participants within the industry…and doing a thorough and a fair job with due regard to .”

Also speaking at the press conference was Deputy Premier and Racing Minister Troy Grant who remains confident in his decision, despite several NSW Party members coming forward to state they oppose the .

“I have spoken to every one of the NSW Nationals Party members, being 24 in total, and/or have communicated by way of text with them,” he said.

“What we have heard in the public commentary is particularly three of the members of the Party who have raised their individual concerns and in regards to the process by which they learned of the decision.

“I have given my members no instructions in relation to how they should form their view.

“I dont gag the National Party members from representing their communities and saying what they think.”

The to ban greyhound racing in NSW is set to be brought before the Parliament on August 2.

Subscribe
Notify of
guest
8 Comments
Inline Feedbacks
View all comments
sparklingspear
sparklingspear
7 years ago

ALL supporters of Greyhound racing should be in the gallery to boo him, and any of his supporters

dogem53
dogem53
7 years ago

pretty damn pathetic when NEWSON,interviewed on SYDNEY RADIO today, ADMITS THE INDUSTRY WAS MAKING PROGRESS in cleaning up its act. the two points he kept thrusting in front of the interviewer(BEN FORDHAM) was the attitude of trainers/owners who INSISTED ON USING DEAD CARCASSES,and the breeding situation. NEWSON admitted they had no reports of continuing LIVE BAITING since the original case blew open,they did receive SOME inside iformation,but nothing substantial that could/would raise the live baiting again. so,here we have the man in charge of running GRNSW, at first being heavily confronted by angry dog people,but as time goes along,HE SEES… Read more »

lone widow
lone widow
7 years ago

More shame on the National party if they support the liberals on august 2.  We will never forget.

Hugh_
Hugh_
7 years ago

dogem53 The industry can’t operate without breeding huge numbers of surplus animals that must be either euthanised or thrust into an already overcrowded pool of unwanted pets.  How do you propose to fix that problem?  The problem is that proponents of the industry don’t have a problem with mass euthanasia, but the public does.  That’s where you see an unwillingness to change.  In fact you have people like Bruce Teague on this very website arguing that wastage is justified because it’s necessary for the “preservation of the breed”. The industry has opposed breeding limits, stronger regulation, stronger inspection powers, they… Read more »

Deborah555
Deborah555
7 years ago

Hugh_ dogem53  The breeding rate in the last 12 months has been reduced by 50% I’d call that self regulation brought about by participants . Participants have accepted lower prize money in exchange for better welfare outcomes. The industry can operate without breeding huge numbers. What some participants have objected to is the administration’s obsession with kennel sizes and not the real issues which are overbreeding and not enough rehoming. So we just did it ourselves 50% reduction in 12 months without any overpaid pollie needed at all. A very high standard of welfare is required to get a dog to… Read more »

Deborah555
Deborah555
7 years ago

lone widow  I think the National party politicians are the only politicians left who care about anything other than infrastructure in Sydney. Quite a few of them have stepped up to support greyhound racing. Let’s hope they continue to support, not just the greyhound people, but all the people in regional Australia. Baird has shown he is simply on a mission to sell every state owned income producing asset so he can pounce around about his surplus ( doesn’t say much about where the replacement for electricity generation income will come from five years from now though.) This “captain’s call” just… Read more »

Hugh_
Hugh_
7 years ago

Deborah555 Hugh_ dogem53 It doesn’t matter if the breeding has dropped by 50% or whatever %.  That doesn’t change the equation of a breeding program where the objective is to obtain fast runners.  Of the dogs bred, only a minority will have what it takes.  The rest are surplus to the industry.   Or are you suggesting that with this drop in breeding that the percentage of bred dogs that race has increased?  Is that what you’re claiming?  Unless all dogs are tracked and it can be demonstrated that none of them are killed, then the absolute number of dogs bred doesn’t… Read more »

Deborah555
Deborah555
7 years ago

Hugh_ Deborah555 dogem53  whether a dog is fast Hugh is relative to the other runners. With less dogs the times might go down but racing can still occur. I can assure you Hugh that my retired greyhounds are looked after well and loved and cared for regardless of how much money they won or actually didn’t win might be a more accurate statement. Any greyhound in my kennel is cared for and fed well regardless of their ability. Greyhounds are tracked Hugh. Pups are micro-chipped before three months of age, registered if they race. Well Hugh if you haven’t got a fast one you… Read more »