For anyone who may not have understood my posts and specifically for Bruce....THIS is the cancer that must be fixed.

NUMBER 1 Priority.... NOTHING can succeed until it is properly representing the BEST interests of participants...

Let me be perfectly clear: The first time someone takes you for a fool and costs you money....you can blame THEM as you were unaware......ALL subsequent times that it happens...there is only (1) ONE person to blame.....and the costs currently range in the HUNDREDS of MILLIONS of DOLLARS.

There is only 1 GLOBALLY recognised representative body for Greyhound people.....Hands up all those who believe they are doing their job ?

Judging by all the disgruntled people on here, do they have many members left?
They seem to be a boat heading for the waterfall...they either change course very quickly or it will be full scale MUTINY!
Doesn't the Captain always go down with the ship?

Michael,the captain of this boat has had to many life jackets and its time the members RIP HOLES in any he has left,the CAPTAIN and his FIRST MATE need throwing OVER BOARD but that is up to the MEMBERS

ALL SAID IN A NUTSHELL

Just a democratic vote of NO CONFIDENCE in the organisations leadership in representing the industries participants.....
ie: The Greyhound...BREEDERS ..OWNERS ..TRAINERS ...Supposedly their CORE CONSTITUENTS.

If members were asked to vote NO CONFIDENCE right now and there was an overwhelming majority that declared no confidence in the leadership, WHAT HAPPENS?

Is it actually possible for the members to vote out the leadership NOW?

Just asking the question.

Thanks for the answer to the puzzle. Cancer=GBOTA (I think).

Now could you clarify what is meant by "There is only 1 GLOBALLY recognised representative body for Greyhound people".

The "globally" bit has me tricked. And I would also like a definition of "greyhound people", just so I know who we are talking about. Note that this site is for "greyhound enthusiasts".

Of interest is that GBOTA claims to have 1,200 members, or just 35% of the 3,350 registered trainers in NSW. It is possible that the other 65% have different views.

Totally agree Mick !

Mick,

I am not sure we ever did. They assumed ownership by default.

On the question of tracks, major investment over the past decade or so is - in rough order of cost ...

Gardens (when in NCA hands)
Bulli (post flood - local club in charge)
Wenty roof (both GBOTA and NCA then)
Gosford (GBOTA - grass to loam, then more later)
Casino (local club)
Lismore (club/GBOTA - flood mitigation)
Richmond (local club)
Dapto (local club)

Plus lots of other smaller jobs - Wenty turns, Bathurst, etc.

So there is no great suggestion of any favoritism there.

The bigger issue is whether any of these jobs were satisfactory and, if not, why GRNSW endorsed them. Most were not in terms of improving reliability and safety.

Whatever, the current issues tell us that GBOTA's contribution is negligible or negative, as is that of GRNSW. In both cases we have all allowed them to adopt their positions. The current pattern of over-regulation is not good but in many ways it is just a continuation of what has been going on for 20 years or more.

Were this going on at the trots or gallops we would see people separately representing owners, trainers and jockeys raising hell - or indeed refusing to race (as the jockeys did at Bathurst, or many trainers did in respect to the Kensington circuit at Randwick). Not so at the dogs.

GBOTA represents a small batch of clubs, mostly for financial reasons. That's all. It has no particular expertise except that it in possession of a certain amount of power. There is nobody to "keep the bastards honest", whether NCA, GBOTA or GRNSW. That's what is missing.

Bruce, I will ignore the fact that you are being obtuse and continue as if you were not [it is so obvious to all].

"There is only 1 GLOBALLY recognised representative body for Greyhound people".

G.B.O.T.A. or small variations to those letters are synonymous with representative bodies all around the world as those that represent the participants....[But then you knew that.]

"Of interest is that GBOTA claims to have 1,200 members, or just 35% of the 3,350 registered trainers in NSW. It is possible that the other 65% have different views."

Forgive me Bruce but I fail to see what relevance the above sentence has to my post [other than further obfuscation???].

The GBOTA is a totally unnecessary further layer of bureaucracy that is not present/or needed in other states and yes they did come to their powerful position by Default /or perhaps design because they have the only "RECOGNISED" name of representation....and can be quoted when necessary about "Consultation" with the industry.

Any formation of other rep. bodies are looked on and put down as "Splinter Groups".

The GBOTA are FAILING and have continued to fail over many many years in their key objectives mainly being :Representing the best interests of The Greyhound Participants and Greyhound Racing respectively...

They are conflicted by the very nature of what they do for GRNSW and the victims are the participants....who end up with NO WORTHWHILE REPRESENTATION !!

[But you knew all this ].

I agree with most of your points although you failed to answer one of my questions and this statement - "The GBOTA is a totally unnecessary further layer of bureaucracy that is not present/or needed in other states" - is factually incorrect (they are present), and the message would have been clearer without the sarcasm and derogatory words.

So what are you proposing for the future?

Here's one to start off your list.

Sell off one or more clubs to private enterprise, thereby installing commercial discipline and getting rid of old fashioned thinking in the one stroke. (No, it's not legal at the moment, but laws can be changed).

Bruce read it again...do you think that I may be referring to the
" further layer of bureaucracy that is not present/or needed in other states"....

"So what are you proposing for the future?"

Bruce I am not here to propose anything... just stating FACTS as I see them and giving MY OPINION of the PRACTICAL POSSIBILITIES available to the participants in N.S.W....Possibilities that they may wish to explore NOW !....Not something that is conceived in UTOPIA which may or may not happen and keeps people busy for another 20 YEARS....Given GRNSW plans for the future....I think NOT.

Depending on the level of discontent about the direction of the industry...and the level of representation being displayed on behalf of the participants.... they may wish to explore the returning of everyone's membership in every branch across the state...resigning immediately from the GBOTA. due to NO CONFIDENCE in their capacity to even "ADEQUATELY" represent them.

This would be the most radical option that is available to them...but one that is available to them NOW and would be a very CRYSTAL CLEAR message that the GBOTA....The so called OWNER and BREEDERS and TRAINERS association need to immediately start doing what their core objectives state in their constitution...."representing there members best interests" .

Obviously something more conciliatory and not as radical, would be to VERY STRONGLY REQUEST in exactly the same manner as above that the GBOTA.....IMMEDIATELY do ALL that is necessary to get before the HIGH COURT OF AUSTRALIA....no matter what procedures are required utilising common sense and due diligence and the millions of dollars that they hold in reserve....

By nature all greyhound participants are gamblers and we would not be in the Industry if we were not.....Is it worth gambling to try and achieve some certainty ,....Dignity and self respect in the courts or just sit here and be slapped around the head until a case has been made to close you down.....I don't know and certainly have no right to decide for anyone....Anyway these are but (2)options that would empower you NOW and given the level of dissatisfaction that is "Palpable" I am sure there are many many people that may suggest more.

Justice McHugh [ex HIGH COURT OF AUSTRALIA] despite his overall charter made: (122) recommendations to enable the Industry to become viable and sustainable into the future....(121) were accepted by the Govt....

The only one that they would not accept was the ONLY one that made it all work.....GETTING PAID WHAT YOU ACTUALLY EARN !!!

The Conflicted GBOTA allowed that to happen....Up to you.

To ALL GBOTA MEMBERS have a good read of Roberts post and get your HEADS together and DO something about the situation we are in,NOW is the TIME not AFTER the event,Like Robert says WE are just being SLAPPED AROUND THE HEAD,MR Scott and CO get in and FIGHT for the INDUSTRY that has PUT bread and butter on your table for so many YEARS,prawns ALSO.

Thankyou Robert for such a straight forward post well explained.

Cheers Noel

If you are "not here to propose anything" there is little point in repeating moans and groans about GBOTA or GRNSW (with which we all agree).

Having said that, you do encourage us to go to the High Court. Unfortunately, as I explained at length previously, that is virtually impossible and certainly impracticable. It is mere waffle.