Greyhound Racing Prohibition Bill Passes NSW Legislative Council
Thursday 11 August 2016 @ 11.42 a.m. | Legal Research
NSW Parliament is currently considering the Greyhound Racing Prohibition Bill 2016, which contains the legislative framework for Premier Mike Baird’s controversial plan to close down greyhound racing in the state. The Bill was introduced and passed without amendment through the Legislative Council yesterday, after it was declared to be urgent by Minister for Roads Duncan Gay. The Bill contains measures allowing the appointment of a Greyhound Racing Administrator to wind up the affairs of Greyhound Racing NSW with the industry as a whole to be shut down on 1 July 2017.
Introducing the Bill in the Legislative Council, Mr Gay acknowledged the controversy behind the decision, saying it was not a “slippery slope”, but rather a “specific response to a specific issue in a specific industry that has been uncovered in a detailed report”. He said the greyhound racing industry “has an appalling track record when it comes to animal welfare issues and has shown reluctance at best, if not outright recalcitrance, when it comes to improving its standards”.
The Government also announced plans to implement a “suitable and appropriate range of assistance and support services” later in the process.
Bill Details
The Bill will commence immediately upon assent, with the Greyhound Racing Act 2009 to be repealed on a date to be proclaimed after the ‘greyhound racing closure date’, which is specified to by 1 July 2017. The Bill makes provision for an Administrator to be appointed who will prepare a draft business plan for the winding up of greyhound racing and the affairs of Greyhound Racing NSW.
After 1 July 2017, it will become illegal to conduct, operate or officiate over greyhound racing or provide betting services in relation to greyhound racing in NSW. The maximum penalty is 100 penalty units ($11,000) and/or imprisonment for 12 months. It will also be an offence to keep a greyhound for the purposes of racing in New South Wales, although there will be a transition period for greyhounds registered before the racing closure date. Greyhounds will be allowed to be kept for the purposes of racing in states other than New South Wales. Greyhounds must not be bred for racing, but may be bred for companion animals.
Support and Opposition
The Greens, who have signalled their intention to introduce similar legislation in the past, are supporting the Bill, with Greens MP Mehreen Faruqi telling The Guardian Australia:
“This is a win for animals and for many in the community who have campaigned for the end of the cruel greyhound racing industry for many decades.”
Labor MP Peter Primrose attempted to postpone debate on the bill, saying that the Opposition had only received a copy of the bill at 10:50 AM on the morning of its introduction and had not had enough time to consider it in detail. He told the Parliament:
“NSW Labor stands for two things: cleaning up the industry and keeping it alive for the vast majority of participants who have only ever done the right thing. Nobody condones animal cruelty…. Greyhound racing provides employment to thousands of our State's citizens and enjoyment to many tens of thousands. A cleaned up, reformed industry can continue to do that. Mr Baird and Mr Grant are criminalising the livelihood and hobby of thousands of New South Wales residents.”
TimeBase is an independent, privately owned Australian legal publisher specialising in the online delivery of accurate, comprehensive and innovative legislation research tools including LawOne and unique Point-in-Time Products.
Sources:
Greyhound Racing Prohibition Bill 2016 - available from TimeBase's LawOne service
Greyhound Racing Amendment (Greyhound Racing Integrity Commission) Bill 2016 - available from TimeBase's LawOne service
Bill to ban greyhound racing passes NSW upper house (The Guardian Australia, 11/08/2016)
