This could be disastrous for the industry long term, especially in Victoria and the Kennels involved.

It has been pretty low key, I have only just stumbled across it today and it has been out about 5 days.

EXTERNAL LINK

yes calum

GRNSW V Wheeler

I am coming from another angle Con. Firstly, PAW has already said that he had cut his breeding in half on this site I believe. Secondly, what if PAW has a gutful of how the industries are being managed and decides to pull the pin. I have no idea what PAW would do but I want to highlight what the overbreeding myth has produced. Which is why the heading is the way it is. PAW races in Victoria, so it effects Victoria.

So why do citizens allow corporations to make laws that conflict with Federal Law. The import and exportation of animals come under Federal law and if the DAWR allowed Paw to export then there can be no issue, totally lawful under Commonwealth Law . Participants have allowed Control Bodies to walk all over them, a bit like our elected governments and they will continue to legislate and control you because you do nothing..........

He hasn't actually broken any laws of the land.
Be interesting to see the outcome of this case.

The GBOTA & ALLIANCE told us all that they hired the best Silks in the Land ?????
Its a shame they opted to roll over like Dogs with Fleas, i wonder what may have been achieved if only they had decided to have a "fair dinkum go" ????

The Commonwealth has no specific involvement or wish to assess what goes on with animals in other countries - except for matters concerning quarantine and the like. That would be interfering with somebody's domestic policies, which is a no-no. That is why human rights issues are so messy.

In the case of people it does issue "advisories", but it does not and cannot implement bans unless it passes a specific law (eg re terrorists). It could well issue advisories for greyhounds but that is not called for as GA does it (on behalf of the various states).

State racing authorities have a direct interest in maintaining the image of Australian greyhounds and greyhound racing and have deemed it necessary to limit any exposure to countries with poor welfare records. GA co-ordinates that involvement and liaises with the Feds, hence the passport process.

There may be overlaps but the two are different.

I may have missed a small point or two, in which case I stand to be corrected. But the basic principle is clear enough.

Meantime, I wish we could drop the PAW question until all the facts are known.

Greyhound Racing New South Wales (GRNSW) today announced the outcome of the hearing into 41 charges laid against participant Paul Wheeler as part of its ongoing inquiry into the unauthorised export of greyhounds.

Mr Wheeler, a leading breeder and owner, is disqualified for 12 months and fined a maximum of $22,000 for facilitating the export of ten registered greyhounds to China without passports, an action which was a serious breach of GRNSW Rules.

Mr Wheeler also pleaded guilty to ten charges under GRNSW Rules of failing to lodge the prescribed transfer of ownership forms and to one charge of engaging in conduct prejudicial to the interest, welfare, image, control or promotion of greyhound racing.

Six months of the disqualification is suspended pending any further breaches of the relevant GRNSW Rules. During the first three months of the disqualification, Mr Wheeler will not be permitted to reside at his property where his greyhounds are located and trained.

GRNSW CEO Tony Mestrov said it takes the welfare of greyhounds very seriously and is committed to preventing the unauthorised export of Australian greyhounds to destinations where practices do not meet industry welfare standards and are inconsistent with community expectations.

In 2014 Greyhounds Australasia (GA) adopted the position that it will not issue passports for greyhounds which are to be exported to countries where it has no formal association with a recognised central regulatory authority.

China is one such destination, and GA has not issued any passports to participants seeking to export greyhounds to China since that time.

GRNSW also considers Mr Wheeler's admitted Rule breaches with respect to the failure to lodge prescribed forms to be significant.

Mr Mestrov said information required to be submitted on the status of greyhounds is crucial to enable GRNSW to properly monitor and regulate their movement.

It is imperative that all participants understand that failure to properly comply with their notification obligations will result in sanctions, he said.

Ensuring proper record keeping is an important component of GRNSW's commitment to ensuring the welfare of greyhounds.

Mr Mestrov said the Steward's decision on penalty reflects the seriousness of Mr Wheeler's offences under the Rules.

He said the financial penalty is the maximum permitted under GRNSW's guiding legislation.

Together with the period of disqualification the decision demonstrates that GRNSW will not tolerate offences which jeopardise the welfare of greyhounds and tarnish the image and reputation of the sport in the eyes of the public.

Two other industry participants, Mr Yiwen Xi and Mr Wei Shan, who have been charged with a range of breaches relating to the export of Mr Wheeler's greyhounds, also have had sanctions imposed upon them.

Both participants failed to produce documents to the Stewards Inquiry as required.

Mr Wei Shan also failed to attend a hearing of the Inquiry despite a direction to do so.

Both participants have been warned off until they produce the required documents, and in the case of Mr Wei Shan until he makes himself available to attend Inquiry hearings.

Mr Mestrov said the wider inquiry into illegal exports of dogs was ongoing.