Greyhounds Australasia boss promises decisive action
THE chief executive of Greyhounds Australasia, Scott Parker, has warned there is no place in the sport for those who continue to use live baiting.
Parker said there was anger in the greyhound community that a small number of trainers had flouted the law with behaviour he said was “extremely unethical”, “abhorrent” and “totally rejected by the industry”.
Speaking before Monday night's airing of the Four Corners investigation titled “Making A Killing”, he said the controversy over live baiting had resurfaced just as the industry was making inroads into becoming a family-friendly sport “all about the racing''.
“We don't believe it [live baiting] is systemic,” he said.
Parker rejected suggestions the ruling bodies were not well enough resourced to seek out and combat cases of live baiting.
Rather he said it was no simple matter to obtain evidence as stewards could not trespass on private properties to take footage or seek evidence of any alleged wrongdoing. Stewards often followed up tip-offs and speculation regarding live baiting but had to operate by their own set of rules.
Four Corners, in conjunction with Animals Australia and Animal Liberation Queensland, is understood to have handed footage and other information relating to alleged live-baiting activities to state-based RSPCAs a fortnight ago.
The RSPCA, along with state police, launched co-ordinated raids last Wednesday at five properties in Queensland, New South Wales and Victoria. So far, seven participants have been stood down in Queensland, six in NSW and 10 in Victoria.
Parker also said it was not unusual that the 23 participants had been immediately stood down, saying the serious nature of the alleged offences demanded swift action.
He said Greyhounds Australasia would undertake an independent review of all systems relating to animal welfare and integrity to meet and surpass community expectations.
Greyhounds Australasia is the overarching body that includes representatives from Australia's state and territory controlling groups and from Greyhound Racing New Zealand.
Four Corner’s report was damning to say the least. I hope these people named are not only given life bans from racing circles, or from owning dogs, but also receive the maximum goal sentence, and have their assets seized as proceeds from crime. I have no compassion for cruel, inhumane idiots. Scott Parker’s response could also have been a little less self-preserving, and a lot more in-line with broader community expectation. I hate the footage I saw tonight on ABC, and I hate those responsible.
Oh man if they find out about the thousands of “free cat to good home baits” they will go beserk
Too little too late shut the gate after the horse has bolted lol. Get out of your ivory towers and do the job you were put there to do .
Second that
Scott Parker needs to be sacked … Karma is sweet Scott
Who is Scott Parker? In the job for a year.. Poor bloke looked scared! I guess he’s just another person behind the desk who gives 2 fucks of what going on.. It’s these ppl that need to be out there inspecting and looking at whats going on behind closed doors…
What baffles me is a shoe string investigation from Four Corners managed to find all of this barbaric treatment through live baiting but your own Industry Regulators some how couldn’t uncover or find any of it???
Ok Danny, ill write a little comment for your blurb… Here we go – Scott Parker has found himself in the mother of all the ‘Thankyou for Smoking’ movie positions. That Hollywood flick concerned itself with media liaison people who tried to justify the unjustifiable. In one scene Aaron Eckhart who played the cigarette industries rep, was putting a good spin on the benefits of smoking to a live audience of school children… Clearly, the entire greyhound industry is under the microscope now. Live baiting, outrageous animal cruelty, dubious characters, big big money… oh boy this does not look good.… Read more »
Mr Parker. Half-hearted lip-service will not do the trick! You should feel incensed at your sport being brought into such disrepute. You say by a small number?? It didn’t strike me that it was “a small number of trainers”. Those very words diminish the affront. You don’t believe it’s systemic? By what definition of systemic? Four Corners focussed on 3 States. Tasmania has at least one trainer caught in the past. Be outraged, Mr Parker!! Be decisive! Be action-oriented and by clear that you have ZERO TOLERANCE…..and not just because it’s illegal, but because it’s immoral and offends any human… Read more »
Their were more than 7 went onto the track in qld so only 7 being suspended is a bad start by the authority.
Those caught were the ones on that Occassion the others on other days are lucky.
The RSPA are considering taking action..if they don’t then it’s been a waste of time.
Rubbish! We needed this to happen. I don’t give up on anything, if u think this is the end this ur choice but I’ll fight..fight for the trainer and owner that loves their dogs and does things within the rules
They don’t love their dogs. I am rescue and I love my dog. I don’t use my dog to make money, I pay from my own money to save dogs.
I race my dogs cause they love it! They r happy and fit and healthy and I love them and find a home for them after they finish racing.. Don’t preach to me about loving dogs cause u r not in my shoes
Scott Parker did not come across too well on four corners
He looked particularly lost and is probably best to just walk away from his job
Dogs are forever not just til they can keep racing to the finish line…that’s what love is.
The only reason scott parker was on is because the other state authorities were to gutless to face the cameras and admit that they were not doing the jobs they are paid to do .
You knew…
Are u not listening, I find homes for all my dogs and to see photos of them on the lounge or playing with kids in the family is what love is! I don’t make money from my dogs in fact they cost me money but they are my life and in first class care unlike some over the abandoned dogs that u would rescue
Scott says he doesn’t believe it is systemic and then says that they can’t inspect all places because they are a long way from capital cities …… Say what? Honestly get serious find all these hillbilly mongrels fine them, jail them and ban them from owning any living breathing creature.
All you legit trainers stand up and condemn these bastards loudly or the public will tar you with the same brush.
Name and shame the ones who haven’t been caught, you know who they are so if you want the public to take you seriously then speak up.
In their info guide Greyhound Racing New South Wales claims to impose and ‘extensive ban’ on those found live baiting. What is an ‘extensive ban’??!! Live baiting deserves LIFE BANS if you are serious about eradicating this heinous act. They also claim to do premise checks ONCE every TWO YEARS?? Your organisation is an absolute disgrace
greyhound racing NSW state they do checks once every 2 years….clearly that’s enough to combat live baiting…. :S
I am not hating on your father. He has a job and he is not doing it very well. That’s not hating that’s a fact and you can ignore facts but that doesn’t change them.
who was defending defenceless animals with no voice? Next to them your dad is not suffering so much.
Four Corner’s report was damning to say the least. I hope these people named are not only given life bans from racing circles, or from owning dogs, but also receive the maximum goal sentence, and have their assets seized as proceeds from crime. I have no compassion for cruel, inhumane idiots. Scott Parker’s response could also have been a little less self-preserving, and a lot more in-line with broader community expectation. I hate the footage I saw tonight on ABC, and I hate those responsible.
Oh man if they find out about the thousands of “free cat to good home baits” they will go beserk
Too little too late shut the gate after the horse has bolted lol. Get out of your ivory towers and do the job you were put there to do .
Second that
Scott Parker needs to be sacked … Karma is sweet Scott
Who is Scott Parker? In the job for a year.. Poor bloke looked scared! I guess he’s just another person behind the desk who gives 2 fucks of what going on.. It’s these ppl that need to be out there inspecting and looking at whats going on behind closed doors…
What baffles me is a shoe string investigation from Four Corners managed to find all of this barbaric treatment through live baiting but your own Industry Regulators some how couldn’t uncover or find any of it???
Ok Danny, ill write a little comment for your blurb… Here we go – Scott Parker has found himself in the mother of all the ‘Thankyou for Smoking’ movie positions. That Hollywood flick concerned itself with media liaison people who tried to justify the unjustifiable. In one scene Aaron Eckhart who played the cigarette industries rep, was putting a good spin on the benefits of smoking to a live audience of school children… Clearly, the entire greyhound industry is under the microscope now. Live baiting, outrageous animal cruelty, dubious characters, big big money… oh boy this does not look good.… Read more »
Mr Parker. Half-hearted lip-service will not do the trick! You should feel incensed at your sport being brought into such disrepute. You say by a small number?? It didn’t strike me that it was “a small number of trainers”. Those very words diminish the affront. You don’t believe it’s systemic? By what definition of systemic? Four Corners focussed on 3 States. Tasmania has at least one trainer caught in the past. Be outraged, Mr Parker!! Be decisive! Be action-oriented and by clear that you have ZERO TOLERANCE…..and not just because it’s illegal, but because it’s immoral and offends any human… Read more »
Their were more than 7 went onto the track in qld so only 7 being suspended is a bad start by the authority.
Those caught were the ones on that Occassion the others on other days are lucky.
The RSPA are considering taking action..if they don’t then it’s been a waste of time.
Rubbish! We needed this to happen. I don’t give up on anything, if u think this is the end this ur choice but I’ll fight..fight for the trainer and owner that loves their dogs and does things within the rules
They don’t love their dogs. I am rescue and I love my dog. I don’t use my dog to make money, I pay from my own money to save dogs.
I race my dogs cause they love it! They r happy and fit and healthy and I love them and find a home for them after they finish racing.. Don’t preach to me about loving dogs cause u r not in my shoes
Scott Parker did not come across too well on four corners He looked particularly lost and is probably best to just walk away from his job
Dogs are forever not just til they can keep racing to the finish line…that’s what love is.
The only reason scott parker was on is because the other state authorities were to gutless to face the cameras and admit that they were not doing the jobs they are paid to do .
You knew…
Are u not listening, I find homes for all my dogs and to see photos of them on the lounge or playing with kids in the family is what love is! I don’t make money from my dogs in fact they cost me money but they are my life and in first class care unlike some over the abandoned dogs that u would rescue
In their info guide Greyhound Racing New South Wales claims to impose and ‘extensive ban’ on those found live baiting. What is an ‘extensive ban’??!! Live baiting deserves LIFE BANS if you are serious about eradicating this heinous act. They also claim to do premise checks ONCE every TWO YEARS?? Your organisation is an absolute disgrace
Scott says he doesn’t believe it is systemic and then says that they can’t inspect all places because they are a long way from capital cities …… Say what? Honestly get serious find all these hillbilly mongrels fine them, jail them and ban them from owning any living breathing creature.
All you legit trainers stand up and condemn these bastards loudly or the public will tar you with the same brush.
Name and shame the ones who haven’t been caught, you know who they are so if you want the public to take you seriously then speak up.
greyhound racing NSW state they do checks once every 2 years….clearly that’s enough to combat live baiting…. :S
It’s pretty obvious they’ve known about it for years and turned a blind eye. Apparently there’s been one report in the last 5 years and that was proven to be false (laughable). It get’s worse just read this article which reports the Greyhound Racing Victoria’s (GRV) former integrity and racing operations manager has been identified as one of the men seen training dogs at sessions using animals as live bait, in footage aired by Four Corners last night. Wow! can it get anymore damming.http://www.abc.net.au/news/2015-02-17/leading-greyhound-figure-bob-smith-live-baiting-controversy/6131244
Excuse me but that is my father so I’m sorry if he didn’t come across well enough for you