Breeding set to be a major focus of Industry Reform Panel
FORMER New South Wales Premier Morris Iemma has spoken out on the future of the greyhound racing industry.
Iemma's statements come as he prepares to lead the newly formed Greyhound Industry Reform Panel charged with making recommendations to the government on how to reform the industry following Mike Baird's reversal of the controversial greyhound racing ban.
Iemma says in order to prosper, the greyhound racing industry must be prepared to change in order to align with community standards.
“The community very clearly wants the industry to have a go improving regulation and compliance, but if it's shown that it still can't change, than I don't think they can rely on any form of public support anymore,” Iemma told The Australian.
The Greyhound Industry Reform Panel is made up of Iemma, Greyhound Breeders, Owners and Trainers Association (GBOTA) CEO Brenton Scott, as well as representatives from the RSPCA, the Department of the Premier and the Department of Primary Industry.
The panel will consider evidence from the Special Commission of Inquiry Report, as well as a variety of other resources prior to making its recommendations, including advice from an expert advisory committee which is yet to be established.
Iemma said breeding was set to be a major focus of the Panel, with restrictions needed to be put in place to properly regulate the amount of dogs born into the industry.
“One of the issues is the number of dogs, and that has to be reduced,” he said.
“How that happens and the regulations around it is one thing I need to get across. Another point is reducing the number of meetings so you require less greyhounds, but the implication that has for tracks and meetings still needs to be worked through.”
A cap of 2,000 pups born per annum had been suggested by the NSW Greyhound Racing Industry Alliance as a part of four guarantees made to the Premier on August 9.
Whilst these guarantees have been specifically mentioned in the terms of reference for the new panel, the industry has tried to distance itself from the figure, stating that the industry is no longer bound to that number.
“The Alliance have raised [the 2,000 breeding cap] specifically with the Premier and Deputy Premier,” GBOTA CEO Brenton Scott said.
“Since [August 9] the Alliance has taken its position to Greyhounds Australasia and has explained that the concept of a controlled breeding program needs to have a national focus.
“We need to understand what's needed to cater for the entire national racing program at a given time and all of our planning needs to be between two and five years ahead.
“We obviously can't breed more than we need to cater for that racing program, once we ensure the national level and the flow between states, then it will become an easier process to determine the breeding levels that should apply in each state.
“It's not about approaching this issue from a breeding cap point of view, but approaching it from an appreciation that we shouldn't be breeding excess to our racing needs and we shouldn't be breeding excess to our capacity to re-home in a manner that is line with community expectations.”
Our say on the Greyhound Industry Reform Panel
The greyhound racing industry must brace itself for a turbulent time ahead, with major changes set to come from the newly-formed panel.
Many of these changes will be welcomed, such as enhanced animal welfare standards, however, there is also immense uncertainty in regards to what the future of the sport looks like.
Morris Iemma's comments to The Australian indicate that the Panel will be aiming to decrease the amount of dogs born into the industry.
Although Brenton Scott has addressed the issue of the 2,000 breeding cap, it is concerning that the industry may be held to this precise figure on a technicality given the terms of reference for the panel specifically quote the guarantees made on August 9 by the Alliance, which this number was a part of.
It will be unfortunate if the industry is locked into this number, with more research essential to establish the correct amount of dogs required to achieve the correct balance of having enough greyhounds to fill the demands of racing, versus the amount of dogs which can be successfully re-homed.
Australian Racing Greyhound is also urging the NSW Greyhound Racing Industry Alliance to make public its letter sent to the NSW Premier on August 9.
This was another document specifically stated within the terms of reference for the new panel, and despite the Alliance stating the commitments made within the letter are identical to those published in the press release on the same day, we feel that in order to be fully transparent this letter should be made available to participants and the wider community.
Whilst it is to early to say whether the recommendations of the panel will improve the sport as a whole, Australian Racing Greyhound is hopeful that a series of positive changes relating to animal welfare, integrity, compliance and regulatory functions will be put in place to see the greyhound industry thrive.
Given that a greyhounds racing career spans 3 to 4 years, at 2,000 pups bred annually that means there are 6,000 to 8,000 dogs of racing age on the ground at any one time in NSW alone.
Seems enough to me.
Whelp them interstate and bring them back? 2000 is not enough and BS should have known better. We are being led by cretins.
If the grading is changed to include older greyhounds racing in their own age group and grading on times for the slower dogs more greyhounds will be competitive for longer and more left in the racing pool ,the grading needs a major reform as this is why so many dogs are retired early ,there are so many dogs missing out on runs at present ,not enough meetings ,the industry participants need to be able to contribute some input, when the taskforce came around to gather information it was from the participants and he decided the industry needed to continue based… Read more »
lone widow I agree lone widow and if it is not we have grounds to up the number nothing is ever really set in stone and as Snooki said grade for all levels of dogs only a few top trainers want top dogs the rest of us do not want press we are not too proud to race ordinary dogs even when they rarely win.
Snooki I could never believe not only that we were cheated out of our rightful share but that they agreed to it for 99 years I have never heard of a business contract set over that long a period. Maybe leases on large properties but to agree to a business arrangement over that length of time was madness.
Deborah555 lone widow Will breeding caps be set for horse racing because I think controlling breeding is a great idea every racing code should have animal welfare at it’s heart every greyhound and horse needs a forever home even for some of them it is in a can. These double standards need to go.
lone widow PS can you imagine the fuss if greyhounds were sent to the knackery canned up (PALed) I think it is called in the horse racing game and then sent to China where they eat dogs. Poor people’s pets must be rehomed pets that rich people race canned up. What freaking hypocrisy.
Deborah555 Snooki A lease on crown land is the only lease i have heard of over 99 years. There may be others.
Deborah555 lone widow Mehreen will stir them up.
lone widow Deborah555 Snooki That is the only one I have ever heard of either.
lone widow Deborah555 I might suggest it to her in my next email. She is really quite sporting about me emailing her quite often. I wondered why until I saw some of the hate mail she gets truly disgusting what I send which is pretty strong when compared to some of the disgusting hate mail she gets I am a paragon of politeness.
Deborah555 lone widow We should show our elected representatives a little more respect, Mehreen does have a constituency. I always believed respect was earned. I’m getting confused.
lone widow Deborah555 Not as confused as she is about how Mikey tricked her.
Deborah555 lone widow I don’t think for one second that he tricked her, his actions were absolute, he had to back down, fortunately for him it just all fell into place. (this time)
That’s right brace yourself, many are saying the onslaught of regulation will kill the Industry This stealth plan by the Government which will be the death of Greyhound Racing here in NSW .this backflipp was to save their bacon in Orange nothing else Come New Year all over red rover ! That’s why we need to support the SF&F and Labor ,Fred Nile in Orange,lets ask Jones and Hadley to ask Baird and Grant to make public Kenirys interim report ,which is obvious they are trying to hide, i have no doubt it was embarrassing for the government , re… Read more »
lone widow Deborah555 Snooki Randwick have a 99 year lease with an option for a further 99 year lease. The perpetual leases for racecourses were under a 1996 Act (I will check it out). Racecourse leases were issued by the Department of Gaming and Racing previously on a yearly basis. The 99 year contract with racing allows the racing to continue without the clubs having to go to the Department of Gaming and Racing each year to renew their licence. The Government can revoke a racecourse licence at any time as it always could, The licence for club to race has always… Read more »
BobWhitelaw In it’s submission to the McHugh commission, GRNSW envisaged replacing the current tracks with 8-14 “centres of Excellence” This would mean that between 20 and 26 clubs would be closed down and the 19 non-tab tracks would almost certainly be amongst them. GRNSW also intended introducing new welfare initiatives in the areas of mandatory education, licencing and rehoming for which industry participants would bear the cost. It said that in order for the industry to meet its welfare targets, participants would also incur costs in improving kennelling facilities, increased vet services and socialisation of greyhounds. All in all the… Read more »
BobWhitelaw Well Animals Australia are having a field day with your snippet on tv saying the industry will only last 3 years due to the new rules. Not sure the new rules are set in stone yet.
lone widow Deborah555 You absolutely right about the process I meant his nature.
John Tracey lone widow Deborah555 Snooki thanks John so there was supposedly a way to review it before the 99 years was up I always wondered about that.
lone widow PS I think she is pretty naïve about the boys club down there and how it all really works.
BobWhitelaw I don’t think their change of heart means that everyone is suddenly going to vote for the Nationals. A lot of the national party (paid up members) want Grant gone and he is till there. I agree it is their motive but I don’t think they are suddenly going to be forgiven.
GeoffWilson BobWhitelaw I agree Geoff we still need to stick together. All this we will fall over is just what the opponents want. The regulations are already overwhelming and we have managed so far and no I agree they are not set in stone.
Deborah555 lone widow The activists are learning fast though. This is probably old news but i have just found out that animal rights activist Lynda Stoner, former fiancee of Senator Derryn Hinch ran unsuccessfully for a seat in the NSW Senate in the federal election 2016. Talk about stacking the deck, or is that called a gerrymander? (of sorts) I’m sure that’s legal?
Yes it is a boys club but nothing like keeping it in the family.
Deborah555 lone widow Oh yes he is gloating.
Deborah555 John Tracey lone widow Snooki In business you need certainty and this equates to stability. In a major change of legislation in the Government Departments it was necessary for a ten year stability climate to effect the reform. This meant that legislation was only subject to incremental changes during this period. The float reform in 1998 not only involved public service reform but other reforms as well so the period was stretched out to 15 years. The situation in Victoria was less complicated and a twelve year period was struck. Both the NSW project and the Victorian project originally had income potential… Read more »
lone widow Deborah555 No lone widow I didn’t know that about Stoner yes we need a few racing pollies to balance it don’t we?
John Tracey Deborah555 lone widow Snooki Thanks John I thought 10 to 15 years was usually the go- 99 is a bit much for stability. As for the rest of the information it was great but it seems too intelligent and sensible to me I don’t like your chances but hopefully
Deborah555 John Tracey lone widow Snooki There are two items involved in Stability. 1. The situation with the inter code which is set not to change for another 83 years unless the parties all agree or if the Government changes the contract by legislation and pays compensation. This would have features like the Gonski Reforms of the Feds. ie there would be a need for the horses to be paid out at the current rates in compensation. 2. The stability of the codes depends on the ability of the administrators to write an act and legislation which will stand the test of time.… Read more »
Deborah555 John Tracey lone widow Snooki 1. The situation with the inter code which is set not to change for another 83 years unless the parties all agree or if the Government changes the contract by legislation and pays compensation. This would have features like the Gonski Reforms of the Feds. ie there would be a need for the horses to be paid out at the current rates in compensation. 2. The stability of the codes depends on the ability of the administrators to write an act and legislation which will stand the test of time. The team selected and the focus now… Read more »
BobWhitelaw Yes Bob, and by agreeing to overturn the ban Baird has taken away the publicity the greyhound Industry was getting through Hadley and Jones. That they would hope helps with the election in Orange as less of a distraction for their proper gander, not that that will help greatly. We all know they are on the nose State wide. Looking at the article above all I can see for the future is less race tracks needed due to less participants and racing dogs in NSW. That is not a win.
John Tracey lone widow Deborah555 Snooki John, forgive me if i appear to be grabbing at straws as i often do but i only have a laymans brain when it comes to these issues.
Because the NSW Coalition Government has legislated greyhound racing as illegal for the last 3 months ‘in both houses of parliament’ doesn’t that fact mean that the lessor (the government) has breached the conditions of the 99 year contract?
lone widow John Tracey Deborah555 Snooki Sorry Loan widow I am not qualified to give you a legal opinion but I am happy to give you what I regard as a recital of facts. 1. The legislation banning the greyhound racing has not yet received Royal Assent so it has not been acted upon, this being the case then no action has been taken with regard to the changing of the contracts. 2. There are legal cases involving the Greyhounds and the Government before the Courts. These cases would need clearing up. This may lead to settlements or further court actions and in… Read more »
Todman The alliance is agreeing with what you are saying, the loss will be felt in later years and a reduction in breeding can only work if it is adopted by all States otherwise it is just a nonsense.
John Tracey lone widow Deborah555 Snooki Thank you for that John. We are all hopeful of getting justice out of this.
John Tracey Deborah555 Snooki PS. For what it’s worth my lay mind tells me that the lease should be voided by the governments intent.
lone widow John Tracey Deborah555 Snooki The Government have the remedy in my opinion, in its administration of the future fund by adjusting the review percentages each 5 years and introducing a first charge off the fund to the greyhounds as the fact that the greyhounds have been receiving less than market share means that in the past they have not had sufficient reserves and there is a backlog on welfare infrastructure on racetracks to deal with animal welfare projects. To make matters worse this is made more obvious that there is a lack of animal welfare infrastructure in the broad community involved… Read more »
GeoffWilson BobWhitelaw Geoff If you heard Allan Jones today he verified what i said on TV and its not a pretty outlook for the industry!