| On Friday, 11 November 2016, 15:03, The Premier of New South Wales wrote: NSW Government Update : The Greyhound Racing Industry Reforms
View this email in your browser Reference: A1889917 11 November 2016 I have previously received correspondence from you about the greyhound racing industry. I am now writing to you after the Government announced its in principle support to give the greyhound racing industry one last chance in NSW, subject to it agreeing to the strictest regulations to clamp down on animal cruelty. Community opinion on this issue remains divided and I know a lot of people will be disappointed by this decision, and its not one that the Government has taken lightly. However it has become clear that, based on the commitments the industry has provided since the Government announced its decision to end greyhound racing, the community wants to give the industry one last chance to reform. The findings of the Special Commission of Inquiry into the Greyhound Racing Industry were stark and impossible to ignore. The Commission found evidence of systemic animal cruelty and advised that the industry was unwilling to change. Dr John Keniry AM, who has been overseeing the transition away from racing, has advised the Government that there has been a major shift in the industrys attitude since the announcement of a ban. He believes the industry is now willing to adopt animal welfare reforms that it has resisted for so long. The industry itself has made commitments that every greyhound bred in NSW will have a full and natural life, breeding numbers will be drastically reduced, they will have a zero tolerance for animal cruelty and racing environments will be made safer. The Government has invited the RSPCA and greyhound racing industry representatives to join a Greyhound Industry Reform Panel, to be chaired by former Premier Morris Iemma. The Panel will determine the new regime that will ensure greyhound racing in NSW is the cleanest in the country and prioritises animal welfare. The Government will ask the Panel to consider:
Mandatory life bans and increased jail terms for live baiting;
Registering greyhounds for their entire lives;
An independent regulator with strong new powers to ensure accountability; and
Substantially increased resources for enforcement and prosecution as well as animal welfare.
Subject to the report of the Panel, the Greyhound Racing Prohibition Act will be repealed next year and new legislation introduced enforcing these tough new standards. While the Government understands our decision will remain unpopular with some, I hope this letter provides a clearer picture of why we have reached this decision, and the path forward for the industry. We understand that, as horrified as everyone was by the practices of animal cruelty, the community also wanted us to give the industry a chance to reform. We will be giving them that chance. The Government is committed to keeping you informed as these issues develop and, if appropriate, may write to you again to update you. Thank you once again for having written to me previously to express your views on this issue. Yours sincerely MIKE BAIRD MP
Premier GPO Box 5341, Sydney NSW 2001 P: (02) 8574 5000 F: (02) 9339 550 EXTERNAL LINK -----------------------------------------------------------------
The above email was received just recently by a family member Note the following In Principle support to overturning the greyhound Ban , that's not what I heard on TV maybe someone could correct me on that ? "I am now writing to you after the Government announced its in principle support to give the greyhound racing industry one last chance in NSW, subject to it agreeing to the strictest regulations to clamp down on animal cruelty." -----------------------------------------------------------------
The premier also states "greyhound racing industry representatives" on the panel when there is only one to my knowledge "The Government has invited the RSPCA and greyhound racing industry representatives to join a Greyhound Industry Reform Panel," Looks like he is still treating us as fools ! Paw
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