The New South Wales Labor racing spokesman, Michael Daley, has accused the premier, Mike Baird, of ignoring “proper processes” and failing to consult before banning greyhound racing in the state.
In an announcement that shocked the industry on Thursday, Baird said greyhound racing would be banned from July next year, citing the findings from an inquiry led by a special commissioner, Michael McHugh.
The inquiry found that between 48,000 and 68,000 greyhounds – at least half of all greyhounds bred to race – were killed in the past 12 years because they were deemed uncompetitive, that dogs were sustaining catastrophic injuries while competing, and that up to 20% of trainers engaged in illegal live baiting.
But Daley said an immediate ban was not among McHugh’s 79 recommendations.
“Commissioner McHugh recommended that parliament should consider whether the industry should be permitted to operate in NSW,” Daley said.
“Not Mike Baird. Not his cabinet. But parliament. Mike Baird ignored the recommendations and made a unilateral decision to wipe out the entire industry. There was no opportunity for industry stakeholders or members of the public to have their say about this.
“No one doubts that there are shocking and unacceptable practices in the greyhound industry, but you don’t close an industry without going through proper processes.”
Baird’s office was contacted for a response. He said on Thursday that closing the industry down was the only acceptable course of action given “the appalling revelations in Mr McHugh’s report and his considered view that any other measures are unlikely to protect animals from further cruelty”.
Animal welfare groups have said they do not have the resources to cope with an influx of dogs expected to be relinquished by trainers as they prepare for the ban. While animal rights groups support the industry closure, they have called on the government to outline how it will support shelters to meet increased demand.
An Australian Veterinary Association spokesman, David Neck, said vets were concerned the decision might force wide-scale euthanasia of the dogs.
Neck described the state government’s plan to rehome thousands of racing greyhounds as “flaky” and said he wanted to see more details before he supported the decision.
“If it involves euthanasia then it has achieved the very thing it was set out to stop, and that’s what the vets are concerned about,” Neck told Australian Associated Press.
The government has said it would make more details of its transition plan for the industry and the dogs available in the second half of the year.
