Greyhound racing representatives will meet with Member for Myall Lakes Stephen Bromhead tomorrow (August 5) in Tuncurry to discuss the NSW government decision to ban the sport in NSW.
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Taree Greyhound Club president Dez McGeachie “is hoping to convince Stephen that the report on which they are basing the decision is totally flawed and the statistics are incorrect.”
He says the delegation will have one hour to detail the economic and social impact of the ban that could drain more than $340,000 from the local economy.
The delegation will include Taree Greyhound Club vice president Ronald Wright, secretary Peter Daniels, treasurer Vince Cassar and Greyhound Breeders Owners and Trainers Association representatives George and Helen Hanson. Mr McGeachie says the club also invited Taree Veterinary Hospital to attend the meeting.
Mr Hanson is keen to attend the meeting and says “we’ve got to put pressure on Mr Bromhead to see if he will cross the floor on this issue – it’s too important.”
Yesterday (August 3) in NSW Parliament in Sydney, Mr Bromhead used question time to request deputy premier Troy Grant “update the House on the greyhound racing industry ban and the state of public debate on this important issue.”
Mr Grant stated in part that ”There has been a lot of talk about what this decision is and what it is not. Let me make it clear. This is not a debate about food and fibre. This is not a debate about our food supply chain. Every industry that deals with animals must do so humanely and our primary industries are the world's best in their practice of husbandry. The slippery slope argument does not hold water.”
“Agriculture built our modern society and it remains its foundation stone. The Nationals will always stand up for the bush and its people and will always stand up for primary industries. What we will not do is stand next to thugs and bullies unlike others who may choose to do so.
“Under the regime that the NSW government is seeking to sweep away, a participant could call the chief executive officer of Greyhound Racing NSW and bargain with him to not prosecute people suspected of live baiting.
“Under this regime, participants could call the CEO and indicate that if they had their way they would have barred journalists from greyhound racing tracks so they could not witness the injuries and deaths of greyhounds at those tracks.
“Under this regime, participants could call and label people in the industry who blew the whistle on live baiting "grubs". Under this regime, participants could tell the CEO that they did not understand why those being investigated for live baiting by journalists and welfare activists did not go and bash them and take their camera. … this abhorrent behaviour is exactly the kind of evidence that was exposed at the special commission of inquiry.”
We’ve got to put pressure on Mr Bromhead to see if he will cross the floor on this issue – it’s too important.”
- George Hanson - Greyhound Breeders Owners and Trainers Association