Northern Tablelands MP Adam Marshall has said the recent greyhound racing ban in NSW is “unique” and the State government is not looking to ban other racing or animal related industries.
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Greyhound racing will be banned in New South Wales from July 1 next year after Premier Mike Baird said the "widespread and systemic mistreatment of animals" cannot be tolerated.
Responding to a tide of dissatisfaction with the ruling from the public, Mr Marshall has sought to dispel recent rumours that the greyhound racing ban is the first step in a state government plan to ban other racing or animal related industries.
“This ban is just isolated to greyhounds,” Mr Marshall said.
“There was a specific issue that aired on four corners about 16 months ago then the government commissioned an inquiry to look at the greyhound industry and this decision is a response to that inquiry.
“It doesn't reflect on any other codes, it’s not a capitulation to the greens or an animal activist agenda, it’s the government of its own accord responding to a report it commissioned which highlights issues that are unique to the greyhound industry that don’t bear comparison to other industries.”
Mr Marshall said the checks and balances that are in horse racing are not in greyhound racing.
“It is not the same in the horse racing industry, they do have regulatory oversight, they do have inspectors to check on animal welfare, they have doping testing regimes, they do have oversight mechanisms in place that greyhounds have not had,” he said.
“So to say that we are thinking of doing the same to the horse racing industry is nonsense.”
Greyhounds Transition Taskforce Coordinator General Dr John Keniry said the NSW Government has committed to a raft of measures, which includes financial assistance.
"I can reassure those working in the greyhound industry that the government has committed to providing financial assistance to transition dogs and people out of the greyhound industry,” he said.