Doggone

[Nelson]

With a State Government controlled by the religious far right banning Greyhound racing and the ridiculously harsh lockout laws are what you will get.Hard to see how the Liberal party publicity machine, the Daily Telegraph can reconcile this when they are always on about supporting the battlers.

I think that you will find that this ban was made by the Small "L" liberals in other words the left of the party, in conjunction with the Greens so I don't the it was the "Right wingers.
By the way I don't support the banning of greyhound racing I think it is a knee jerk reaction, if you want to get rid of the bad apples in greyhound racing, bring in draconian punishment for those that are caught doing the wrong thing don't punish everybody for the sins of a few.
I don't have any interest in the sport and I'm not a punter, just Joe average.

That is the ordinary and logical first step. Try extreme regulation and if it's ineffective or incapable of being effectively policed then banning the industry becomes an option that needs consideration.

I don't think the people complaining about the industry are misguided, they have a legitimate interest in the welfare of the animals whatever their political persuasion. That interest just needs to be balanced against the interests of those who derive a livelihood or even just enjoyment out of the industry. Outright banning it is just making no attempt to balance interests.

 

[Milky]

I mean i'm no vegan and i doubt many of you here are, so what is the difference between literally slaughtering animals and this?

I take no interest in greyhound racing so i don't care that it is gone.

Though, many jobs have obviously been lost…are these people being compensated or provided with some sort of income until they can get back on their feet?

 

[Harvey]

What about those who have invested heavily in property to breed them. They have been left with nothing but debt. I am sure that at least those on the fringe of Sydney will have property developers willing to take it off their hands. How many liberal members have been before ICAC for being illegally supported by this group recently.
Baird is a dictator, I am waiting for him to sack those councils where the mayors have been critical of this plan. He can then appoint his cronies as administrators (on good money) for the next couple of years

 

[eyewonder]

so yogie baird and co have had their greyhound bill passed through the state's senate.it now has to go back to the lower house for further attention-the issue wont be revisited till later in the month.why it has to go back to the lower house i dontknow.
a lot of implications for the people of new south wales werent decided on- fines,compensation packages prison sentences etc werent discussed according to abc radio this morning.
if compensation packages are given,where does the money come from?australian taxpayers?i wonder if malcolm turnbull is watching developments closely.
so what happens to prime pieces of public land- wentworth park,for example would fetch a fine dollar in the private market i would imagine.good earner,mr baird!
society always changes which older persons like myself,find hard.
my concern is for good australians who have had their livelihood and leisure taken away by government.

regional new south wales struggles with unemployment and related social issues .
i dont care for politics nor do i have any vested interests in the greyhound industry.
animal treatment is an important issue ,of course.
i just wonder what mr baird and co are sitting down and having or tea tonight.will it be steak,pork or chicken?
wonder where it came from and how those animals have been treated.

 

[Juro]

I have absolutely no interest in dog racing, or horse racing for that matter. I don't even bother to watch, let alone punt on, the Melbourne Cup. Any sport that only exists for the sake of gambling is not worth having, as far as I'm concerned.

That so many operators were found to be using these cruel practices, I have no qualms in backing Baird's decision. Then seeing people like Buzz Rothfield coming out in support of the greyhound industry, I am happy to say 'ban it'!

 

[Cultured_Bogan]

I mean i'm no vegan and i doubt many of you here are, so what is the difference between literally slaughtering animals and this?

I take no interest in greyhound racing so i don't care that it is gone.

Though, many jobs have obviously been lost…are these people being compensated or provided with some sort of income until they can get back on their feet?

Dogs are bred to be raced, the ones that aren't quick enough cop a slug to the back of the skull (if they're lucky enough,) or get beat about the head with a rock and unceremoniously chucked into a grave. Meat is reared with the distinct purpose to be eaten. The meat industry is pretty well regulated in Australia, although I am certain there will be a few out there whom flaunt or disregard the animal welfare rules. I just tried searching for poor beef cattle welfare in Australia and it didn't drag up anything shocking.

I don't see cows being fed live piglets to make them faster either.

 

[Sco77y]

I mean i'm no vegan and i doubt many of you here are, so what is the difference between literally slaughtering animals and this?

I take no interest in greyhound racing so i don't care that it is gone.

Though, many jobs have obviously been lost…are these people being compensated or provided with some sort of income until they can get back on their feet?

Dogs are bred to be raced, the ones that aren't quick enough cop a slug to the back of the skull (if they're lucky enough,) or get beat about the head with a rock and unceremoniously chucked into a grave. Meat is reared with the distinct purpose to be eaten. The meat industry is pretty well regulated in Australia, although I am certain there will be a few out there whom flaunt or disregard the animal welfare rules. I just tried searching for poor beef cattle welfare in Australia and it didn't drag up anything shocking.

I don't see cows being fed live piglets to make them faster either.

Lol - Yeah it's quite a big difference, and even so from horse racing imo, which doesn't contain this aspect (live baiting). As for wastage, that's definitely still a big issue in both of these sports. There are homes etc. that will take in unsuccessful race horses (maybe greyhounds too?), but I don't think that's widespread enough to make a big enough difference. The numbers being killed in greyhound racing incredibly large however, and have been that way for a long time. I'm not sure that horse racing would be anywhere near that number (not that any amount should be acceptable).

 

[Newtown]

The root problem is the over breeding which occurs in the industry. You don't have to be a Rhodes Scholar to understand that if there are say 5000 or more dogs bred every year and there are not enough races for most of these dogs to be competitive in then it is becomes very expensive to continue training the dogs which are not competitive unless the trainer/owner becomes desperate and is willing to take illegal risks. These illegal risks are in one form or other happening in most sports, just looks at the Olympic games and even rugby league.

Baird took the easy option and reacted to a Four Corners TV which highlighted the wrong doings of a small minority of the greyhound industry. A little more difficult for Baird would have been to really police this sport with very heavy fines and even jail sentences for the wrong doers. He also could have policed the greyhound breeding industry by setting a quota for breeding per year. Instead he took the easy and what he thinks is the more popular vote winning direction of penalising the innocent large majority of the greyhound industry along with the small minority wrongdoers. Hardly fair.

 

[Newtown]

I mean i'm no vegan and i doubt many of you here are, so what is the difference between literally slaughtering animals and this?

I take no interest in greyhound racing so i don't care that it is gone.

Though, many jobs have obviously been lost…are these people being compensated or provided with some sort of income until they can get back on their feet?

Dogs are bred to be raced, the ones that aren't quick enough cop a slug to the back of the skull (if they're lucky enough,) or get beat about the head with a rock and unceremoniously chucked into a grave. Meat is reared with the distinct purpose to be eaten. The meat industry is pretty well regulated in Australia, although I am certain there will be a few out there whom flaunt or disregard the animal welfare rules. I just tried searching for poor beef cattle welfare in Australia and it didn't drag up anything shocking.

I don't see cows being fed live piglets to make them faster either.

Lol - Yeah it's quite a big difference, and even so from horse racing imo, which doesn't contain this aspect (live baiting). As for wastage, that's definitely still a big issue in both of these sports. There are homes etc. that will take in unsuccessful race horses (maybe greyhounds too?), but I don't think that's widespread enough to make a big enough difference. The numbers being killed in greyhound racing incredibly large however, and have been that way for a long time. I'm not sure that horse racing would be anywhere near that number (not that any amount should be acceptable).

There has never been a government report on how many uncompetitive racehorses are killed each year throughout Australia. One of the main reasons is that the many racehorse owner are in high society and have far too much influence, i.e. political donations etc, over the government of the day.

 

[Cultured_Bogan]

Bang on Newtown. The horses are still seen as a commodity to be used or discarded dependent on their ability. I think greyhounds also are a bigger target moreso for the live baiting aspect. It's not just limited to cruelty to the dogs themselves, other animals are being treated abhorrently as part of the live baiting practice.

 

[Sco77y]

I mean i'm no vegan and i doubt many of you here are, so what is the difference between literally slaughtering animals and this?

I take no interest in greyhound racing so i don't care that it is gone.

Though, many jobs have obviously been lost…are these people being compensated or provided with some sort of income until they can get back on their feet?

Dogs are bred to be raced, the ones that aren't quick enough cop a slug to the back of the skull (if they're lucky enough,) or get beat about the head with a rock and unceremoniously chucked into a grave. Meat is reared with the distinct purpose to be eaten. The meat industry is pretty well regulated in Australia, although I am certain there will be a few out there whom flaunt or disregard the animal welfare rules. I just tried searching for poor beef cattle welfare in Australia and it didn't drag up anything shocking.

I don't see cows being fed live piglets to make them faster either.

Lol - Yeah it's quite a big difference, and even so from horse racing imo, which doesn't contain this aspect (live baiting). As for wastage, that's definitely still a big issue in both of these sports. There are homes etc. that will take in unsuccessful race horses (maybe greyhounds too?), but I don't think that's widespread enough to make a big enough difference. The numbers being killed in greyhound racing incredibly large however, and have been that way for a long time. I'm not sure that horse racing would be anywhere near that number (not that any amount should be acceptable).

There has never been a government report on how many uncompetitive racehorses are killed each year throughout Australia. One of the main reasons is that the many racehorse owner are in high society and have far too much influence, i.e. political donations etc, over the government of the day.

You're right Newtown, I was referring more to the live baiting as the main difference setting the two apart. Wastage is no doubt a big issue in both, we can only hope that the number of horses is less than in greyhound racing.

 

[eyewonder]

so the baird government has reversed their greyhound racing ban.Good.

i am happy for the greyhound industry as it can continue and provide employment,recreation and social interaction for the people of new south wales.
i think bairds rash decision in july wasnt properly thought through and wasnt in the best interests for the majority of people in the state.
regional towns like orange,lismore,[This word has been automatically removed]amble and moss vale all would have been cruelled had the ban remained.so the nationals,led by troy grant,decided on the basis of self interest, to listen to their constituents.
to me,leaders have to have the capacity to consider others opinions.ultimately,their decisions should show that consultative process.
i can only hope that our jason taylor has been watching and learnt the importance of listening to others.