Urgent need to boost NSWs dying greyhound racing industry

The Shooters, Fishers and Farmers (SFF) Party has called on the NSW Government to learn from Victorias commitment to greyhound racing, instead of trying to slowly kill the industry.

The re-elected Victorian Andrews government pledged $4 million to boost greyhound racing prize money and track facilities.

Meanwhile, in NSW, the industry is being killed by stealth, even though theres no evidence of live baiting anywhere in the state.

Tracks are being closed, prize money is shrinking and administration costs are choking owners and trainers, Robert Borsak, SFF Upper House MP said.

Fund track upgrades

The NSW Government recently shut down tracks in Armidale and Tamworth due to poor maintenance and safety issues. Grounds across regional NSW face a similar fate as theyve been underfunded for decades.

The Liberals and Nationals are letting the industry die by failing to fund track upgrades, then shutting down the grounds when safety issues arise.

But this sport contributes more than $300 million to our economy.

We need to bolster it, not kill it off.

We want the NSW Government to commit to a $200 million capital works program to upgrade tracks across the state over the next five years.

Boost prize money

Tony Atkins, a veteran greyhound racing participant, said ridiculously low prize money must also be addressed.

Prize money has barely increased in 20 years. But administration costs have skyrocketed, he said

Mr Atkins said for lower-grade races, prizes range from $210 to $270.

This makes it very difficult for an owner who may have spent more than $10,000 getting their dog race ready to recoup their investment.

A lot of trainers and owners are pensioners. Prize money is their only wage. Its not enough to keep them going.

Unfair tax and revenue system

Mr Borsak also took aim at an unfair tax system and growing bureaucracy crippling the industry.

At the moment, the NSW Government essentially takes money away from pensioner greyhound punters are gives it to the wealthy horseracing industry.

Greyhounds contributes 22 per cent of betting revenues in the taxes it pays,

But they are only getting 13 per cent back from Government.

We want the distribution of tax revenue to reflect the market share they contribute.

Slash the bureaucracy

The Greyhound industry is also saddled with a bloated government bureaucracy.

We support oversight, but this Greyhound Welfare Industry Commission is overkill,

Theyve just declared that theres no evidence of living baiting in NSW. There are few investigations

So why do they need a CEO, two commissioners and 70 other bureaucrats?

We have enough useless overstaffed bureaucracies in NSW.

Mr Atkins said the sport is thriving in Queensland and Victoria, so its time for his state to catch up.

We are the sour meat between the sandwich.

SFF Plan to save the Greyhound Racing industry

1) Funding to increase prize money across all races, to match prize monies in Victoria, with funds targeted to all races including non TAB races.
2) Extensive $200 million capital works program over the next five years to provide for track repairs, upgrades and maintenance. Fulfil the promise of a new track in Queanbeyan.
3) Reforming point of consumption tax distribution so the greyhound industry receives an amount equivalent to its market contribution.
4) Removal of two Greyhound Welfare Integrity Commission commissioners at expiry of their term and gradual retrenchment of 30 staff over the next two years.

get the SFFP name out there

dont just sit at home and think someone else will do it for you

remember the save the greyhound rally and the amazing turnout ?