"Death by over-regulation": That's Baird's greyhound plan
Mike Baird says he's reversing his greyhound racing ban, but it's just "death by over-regulation" for the industry.
Shooters Fishers and Farmers MLC Robert Borsak slammed Premier Mike Baird's so-called reversal on his greyhound racing ban as a slow "death by over-regulation".
"This so-called reversal of the greyhound racing ban is solely aimed at softening the blow of the Orange by-election and two flagged leadership spills, while ensuring the industry dies a slow death by over-regulation," Mr Borsak said.
"Closing some tracks, capping greyhound breeding to 2,000, and forcing bonds for greyhounds bred will slowly kill the greyhound racing industry - especially if funding fairness is not restored.
"Over $35m is robbed from greyhound racing annually to fund other racing codes, so any attempt at ensuring profitability and financial viability has a hole in its heart from the outset.
Mr Borsak said that the Shooters Fishers and Farmers Party will be moving amendments to Mike Baird and Troy Grant's bill restoring the industry to ensure the following:
- A full reversal of the greyhound racing ban.
- Giving the industry the ability to self-govern.
- Restoring all the revenue and taxation under the intercode and tax sharing agreements that sends greyhound racing's profits to horse racing.
- Compensation for past transfers of revenue to upgrade all tracks and facilities to the latest standards state wide.
- No forced closure of any tracks without local community support.
"Any moves to reverse a ban will be for nothing unless the industry has self-governance, revenue and taxation sharing arrangements are made fairer, compensation for transfers of revenue is made, and no tracks are forced to close," Mr Borsak said.
"There are thousands of families across the New South Wales who will still be under financial hardship from these constraints on the greyhound racing industry, and this will only serve to appease the city-based criticism at the Premier and his Government."
Premier Mike Baird and Deputy Premier Troy Grant are expected to announce their plans after Cabinet meets today.
"The Shooters Fishers and Farmers Party will be closely watching announcements from Cabinet today and will continue to fight for the rights of an industry that deserves to operate on a level playing field," Mr Borsak said.
