Right: the sport of greyhound racing has always been known as "the working man's sport". For well over a century, "the dogs" was a weekly outing for many Australian families and an opportunity for trainers who were, perhaps, too poor to enter the more prestigious field of horse racing..
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Arguments in favour of banning greyhound racing in New South Wales
1. Severe animal cruelty is wide-spread in the industry
There are two primary types of cruelty accusation made against the greyhound racing industry in New South Wales. One is the use of live-baiting, that is, small live animals, such as rabbits and piglets, are tied to the lure when dogs are being trained to increased the speed at which the dogs run.
The McHugh Special Commission of Inquiry into the Greyhound Racing Industry in New South Wales claimed that the practice was 'widespread' and estimated that about 10-20 per cent of trainers engaged in it.
The other principal form of cruelty of which the industry has been accused is the large-scale killing of dogs bred each year that are found to be too slow or surplus to requirements.
On July 8, 2016, The Conversation published a comment by Roger Burritt, Visiting professor, Management in the International Food Industry, University of Kassel and
Katherine Christ, Researcher and Tutor in Accounting and Sustainability, University of South Australia. The authors were investigating the failure of greyhound racing to meet community expectations regarding animal cruelty. The researchers stated, 'Greyhounds have been treated as products of the racing industry and when the products failed to make money, they were disposed of en masse as waste products, instead of in a humane way acceptable to society...'
When announcing that greyhound racing was to be banned in New South Wales, the premier, Mike Baird, quoted the Commission's finding that 'Between 48,000-68,000 dogs were killed in the past 12 years in New South Wales because they were too slow or otherwise unsuitable for racing.'
Premier Baird stated, 'As you will see when you go through the report, he has shone the light on an industry that has overseen the slaughter of tens of thousands of healthy dogs whose only crime was they weren't fast enough.'
Mr Baird gave animal cruelty as his government's primary reason for banning greyhound racing in New South Wales. The premier stated, 'No Government wants to close down an industry and I absolutely want to acknowledge that there are many, many great people in the greyhound industry who will be devastated by this news.
But there are too many of those in the industry for financial gain or for whatever other motivation they had, chose to put animal welfare as their least consideration...'
A similar point was made by Dr Jed Goodfellow from RSPCA Australia, who has stated, 'It is simply not acceptable in the 21st century to be putting thousands upon thousands of dogs to death for the purposes of sport and entertainment and gambling.'
In addition to the large number of dogs killed each year as unnecessary or too slow and in addition to live-baiting, greyhound racing is condemned as cruel because of the high incidence of injury and death racing dogs suffer.
In an opinion piece published in The Australian on July 16, 2016, the newspaper's associate editor, Caroline Overington, stated, 'Racing dogs suffer catastrophic injuries, usually at the track.
By catastrophic, they mean broken necks, broken backs, and skull fractures. The dogs tear their muscles coming around corners, and that's expensive to treat so they get put down.'
2. The industry has not shown the capacity to reform itself
Critics of the greyhound racing industry in New South Wales maintain that it has shown no serious resolve to remove the animal welfare abuses that have brought it into disrepute.
A former Greyhound Racing NSW on-track vet, Dr Greg Bryant, has commented on the persistent animal cruelty he observed and the lack of willingness to remedy the problem.
Dr Bryant stated during an ABC News report aired on July 15, 2016, 'There is no commitment to animal welfare that I witnessed... I expected to see changes in the time I was with Greyhound Racing NSW. I didn't see any changes.'
Dr Bryant also claimed that the industry deliberately covered up instances of animal death and mistreatment. Dr Bryant stated, 'Not one of the deaths I recorded in that period between January and August of 2015 was reported in a steward's report.'
When Dr Bryant challenged why one of the dog deaths he had recorded was not reported he was told, 'they didn't report those things because they didn't want to stir up the greenies, they didn't want to bring the industry into disrepute or under further scrutiny.'
On July 8, 2016, The Conversation published a comment by Roger Burritt, Visiting professor, Management in the International Food Industry, University of Kassel and
Katherine Christ, Researcher and Tutor in Accounting and Sustainability, University of South Australia. The authors were investigating the failure of greyhound racing to adequately self-regulate. The researchers stated, 'Members of the industry argue that they need more time to adjust behaviour away from the poor practices, but clearly the mindset of those prepared to chance their arm has not changed.
Greyhound racing relies on good behaviour from its members when seeking continuous approval for ongoing operations. In the case of greyhound racing in NSW, all acknowledge that self-regulation failed.'
ABC journalist, Caro Meldrum Hanna, who investigated 'live-baiting' for Four Corners, has similarly noted the greyhound racing industry's failure to reform. Hanna has stated, 'Even when this sport was on notice, throughout the year, we have seen doping results for ice. They are giving ice to dogs ... it was their year to fix things finally and it didn't happen.'
3. Compensation will be made available to those who have to leave the banned industry
The New South Wales government's announcement of the closure of the greyhound racing industry included the following statement: 'The NSW greyhound racing industry will be transitioned to closure over 12 months to allow appropriate management of animal welfare and transitions for industry participants. Racing of greyhounds will be permitted until 1 July 2017.'
New South Wales Premier, Mike Baird, has indicated that his Government would establish an assistance package for those who work in the industry, to help them in the lead-up to the shutdown. Premier Baird also said the transition to shut down would be partly funded by money the Government has collected in tax on greyhound betting over the last financial year, estimated at about $30 million. It has been estimated that the government will compensate each owner $500 per racing dog; however, the adequacy of these proposed figures has been disputed.
The extent of the compensation that may be required is not yet known. It has been claimed that the monies referred to so far are not sufficient adequately to compensate those being forced out of the greyhound racing industry. The greyhound industry has estimated the New South Wales Government could have to pay $4 billion in compensation for its decision to outlaw racing by July next year. The estimate was made in a 23-page rebuttal document handed to the Premier's office.
New South Wales greyhound trainer, Darryl Armfield, has indicated he would be seeking compensation from the state government for at least $250,000.
A greyhound trainer for six years, Mr Armfield has just spent $100,000 constructing a greyhound complex including a kennel block and training area in Casino. Mr Armfield owns 10 pups in a rearing yard and 13 dogs. Each greyhound pup has a lifetime racing value of $10,000. Mr Armfield estimates that, 'including registration costs' his losses are approximately $250,000.
The government will be establishing a taskforce to support the greyhound industry and its employees as the industry is shut down. The taskforce will develop a detailed industry shutdown plan during the second half of 2016 following consultation with the greyhound industry and animal welfare organisations.
The New South Wales government has stated that it 'will soon announce a detailed support package to ensure animal welfare and assist the industry in the immediate future.'
4. The popularity of greyhound racing is in decline and its 'social licence' has been disputed
Those who favour the banning of the industry claim that it is in long-term decline and that all the enforced closure in New South Wales is doing is bringing the day forward.
On July 10, 2016, The Vine published a comment by Tara Watson in which she stated, 'Let's not kid ourselves into thinking greyhound racing in Australia is the booming industry it once was, according to IBIS World's Horse and Dog Racing market research report from October 2014, industry revenue has been declining due to stagnant racing attendances and the rising popularity of alternative forms of gambling.'
The adverse publicity the industry has received as a result of the exposure of the cruel treatment of animals adopted by some owners and trainers is believed likely to hasten its decline. As an indication of the industry's declining public support, almost 22,000 people recently voted in a poll asking whether there should be an Australia-wide ban on greyhound racing, with 82 per cent in favour of completely shutting down the industry.
Australia is one of only eight countries in the world where commercial greyhound racing is still legal. Other countries include Macau, Vietnam, New Zealand, Ireland, Britain, the United States and Mexico.
Tara Watson has further stated, 'Ending the sport in Australia, will follow the lead of 39 states in the US in banning dog racing and we will join the majority of countries that don't allow the sport on ethical grounds.'
The Special Commission into the Greyhound Industry in New South Wales has claimed that the industry has lost its 'social licence'. A social licence to operate is the set of conditions that society places on a company or industry to exist and grow. The Commission's report claims that the industry's treatment of animals was in breach of accepted community standards and that it had lost community faith in its readiness or ability to reform.
In an opinion piece published in The Australian Financial Review on July 26, 2016, Katherine Teh-White summed up the nature of the greyhound racing industry's loss of 'social licence'. The-White states, 'McHugh's report has hit home the need for industry to manage their own reform process, to be transparent about its own problems, to build the culture to be able to do that, and keep up-to-date with societal expectations to resolve those tension points.'
5. Homes will be found for as many greyhounds as possible and long-term loss of dogs' lives will be stopped
The hope of the New South Wales government and animal welfare groups is that as many dogs as possible will be able to be rehomed. The Premier, Mike Baird, has stated, 'We're...very clear that we want to support the welfare of the dogs. [RSPCA NSW] is going to be contacting every single breeder and owner to try and provide support. So we'll work with them and provide the resources to them. We will do everything we can to look after them.'
The government has stated that the options for the dogs will include: humane euthanasia; remaining in their current home; being rehomed through an adoption program; or being transferred interstate or overseas to jurisdictions that have appropriate animal welfare standards.
RSPCA NSW spokesperson Jessica Conway, 'Humane euthanasia will be the last resort.'
Many of those calling for greyhound racing to be banned in New South Wales and throughout Australia acknowledge that in the short-term more dogs will die, but over time a ban will be to the advantage of the breed.
On July 10, 2016, The Vine published a comment by Tara Watson in which she stated, 'While greyhounds rescue groups, shelter groups and shelter organisations will do all they can do to find homes for as many dogs as they can, the sad reality is that many dogs will be killed...
In time, if the sport ends, causing over-breeding to cease, we will see fewer greyhounds in shelters and more greyhounds growing up in a loving environment.'
The same point has been made by RSPCA CEO, Steven Coleman, who has stated that while many greyhounds will be eligible to be fostered or rehomed, a 'fair proportion' will have to be euthanised.
However, regrettable though the deaths of many dogs is, the RSPCA remains in favour of the banning of the industry as it will prevented tens of thousands of dogs being killed annually and others being seriously injured.
Mr Coleman stated, 'We're focused on longer term animal welfare gain. We're delighted that the NSW Government has adopted the first recommendation of the inquiry [to ban the industry] in the interest of animal welfare over financial gain.'