“The commission concluded that of the 97,783 greyhounds bred in New South Wales in the past 12 years, between 48,891 and 68,448 were killed because they were deemed uncompetitive as racing dogs, a so-called “wastage” rate of 50 to 70 per cent”.
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New South Wales joins a list of governments around the world that have banned greyhound racing.
Opposition leader Luke Foley said the ban would break the hearts of “thousands of good men and women across the state”.
Once the ban comes into effect, anyone caught organising a race will face a one-year jail sentence and maximum $11,000 fine. “Not unlike Mike Baird the politician, Mike Baird the dog loves a bit of exercise as well as spending time on the couch watching The Bachelor”, says Friends of the Hound volunteer Kay Mills.
“No-one doubts the report of the commission of inquiry was damning”.
“What sort of individual refuses to listen to people about the impact that this ban will have on regional and rural communities?”
Three National Party members crossed the floor on the crucial vote – Kevin Humphries, Katrina Hodgkinson and Chris Gulaptis.
Former Liberal MP for East Hills Glenn Brookes, who now sits on the cross bench as an independent, also voted against the bill.
The vote on the all-important second reading of the legislation occurred just before 3am, with debate concluding at around 3.40am.
“I am pleased the parliament has strongly supported the government’s decision, because it is the right one, even though it has been a hard one”, Mr Baird said.
“Too often governments put confronting problems in the too hard basket”, Mr Baird said.
Labor Leader Luke Foley reiterated Labor’s policy that Parliament should be used to strengthen animal welfare and integrity measures in greyhound racing, not ban the entire industry.
It is a subject that is diving many, with some saying the industry is rampant with animal cruelty and needs to be shut down and others saying a total ban would ruin the lives of hundreds of people.
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“Instead of allowing the criminal law to punish the guilty.the Government introduces the most draconian legislation that punishes everyone in that industry, the thousands of participants”, Mr Foley said.
