Follow the money: is ban more about finances than welfare?

As the truth is slowly but surely teased out of the Gordian knot of lies weaved into the fabric of the McHugh Special Commission, it certainly looks as though is not the real issue at the forefront of Premier Baird's unilateral decision.

There are now claims it really is more about money, especially if a radio interview between greyhound trainer who had discussions whith government chief whip Steven Bromhead, the audio link kindly posted by dogem53 on one of the articles on this website, is to be believed.

There are plenty within the greyhound industry pointedly referencing Recommendation 64 of the McHugh report, which calls for greyhound racing to receive its proper share of NSW TAB revenues. Under a bizarre Inter-Code agreement deal signed off between the three racing codes in about 1998, greyhound racing revenues were pegged at just 13% for 99 years. The deal was slammed at the time and I don't intend to embarrass the people involved who signed off on this, but they clearly failed greyhound racing in this state in a very big way.

At no time since the advent of the NSW TAB has greyhound racing's share of the punting market been as low as 13%, and as I pointed out in a previous article it has been as high as 22.9% (1971-72) and has remained at about 20% or more for a very long time.

In 2008, Alan Cameron AM was commissioned by the-then Labor government in NSW to undertake an independent review of the regulations and sustainability of the entire racing industry in the state.

For greyhound racing his recommendation, number 21, was: The three racing codes should agree to amend the Inter-code Agreement to provide that returns to each code from TAB distributions are in proportion to the percentage of wagering generated by each code; in the absence of such an agreement, the Government should over-ride the Inter-code Agreement and the RDA such that the distributions from the TAB are made directly to each code and in proportion to the percentage of wagering generated by each code.

Sounds familiar doesn't it to recommendation 64 of the McHugh report?

Former chairman Professor AM, in his submission to the McHugh Special Commission, included as one of his attachments his release of February 6, 2012 which was entitled ‘The State of Greyhound Racing and the Challenges Ahead'.
Among his statements was that for the 2011 financial year ‘prizemoney reached $22.2 million – a rise of more than 50% [on 2004 figures]'. Hardly the shrinking returns claimed by Premier Baird to the Daily Telegraph.

Professor Allan did point up the failure to implement the Cameron Report's recommendation, stating, ‘If there is one regret… it would be the failure to get the NSW Government to enact the of the independent Cameron Report.'

Professor Allan would have gained no friends in Macquarie Street when he said: “To this the government refuses to take steps for it to be implemented and that is a great shame since it was government that commissioned the independent report.”

In a 10-page submission to a Parliamentary Select Committee into NSW Greyhound Racing in 2013, the Greyhound Club wrote: “Greyhound assumed responsibility for animal welfare matters within the NSW industry in July 2009. Prior to that it was the responsibility of successive government authorities.” And they failed badly.

The Goulburn club submission suggested the Inter-Code Agreement made in 1998 was not only not practical it might well be unconstitutional and they estimated that in the first 15 years of its operation “greyhound racing had subsidized thoroughbred and harness racing by over $139 million.” A different amount to that mentioned by Professor Allan (who suggested greyhounds had lost out on $125 million), but whether you accept the lower or the higher figure, the result is the same: greyhound racing has been subsidizing the horses and harness racing ever since that agreement was inked.

By the way, that parliamentary select committee inquiry made the following point about welfare issues in greyhound racing, basically stating it found the incidence of cruelty and neglect is minimal and on the whole greyhound owners take great care and pride in their dogs.

The Latin phrase ‘cui bono', meaning ‘to whose profit or benefit' is as old as the Roman Empire, yet it rings true time and time again. Who stands to gain if greyhound racing is shut down in NSW? That's the real question which needs to be answered.

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dogem53
dogem53
7 years ago

BRAD… following on where I wrote about a confrontation between the so called MINISTER TROY GRANT and an old fello on the weekend,it was noted the old chap(interviewed by RAY HADLEY 2GB) asked relevant questions pertaining to why GRANT/BAIRD have decided to shut the industry down,one reply to a question by the old gent was YOU GUYS BROUGHT IT ON YOURSELVES BY SIGNING A STUPID 100 YEAR OLD DEAL THAT OBVIOUSLY WAS THE WRONG THING TO DO. TROY GRANT ADMITTING IT WAS STUPID,yet this same guy(is he a guy)who has the power to look at the deal and raise it… Read more »

John Tracey
John Tracey
7 years ago

It is always about money in the city  and amenity and activity in the bush. The discussions with the whip are for two purposes. The premier wants to deflect the debate focus onto compensation to help break down the resolve of the dissenting members and he wants to break down the horse support for the greyhound industry by warning them they will be financially disadvantaged if they stay in. The only question we need to answer at the moment is can we put enough political pressure on the Government to Stay in. The country club conference is on  at Wentworth… Read more »

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7 years ago

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