Page 142 - Week 01 - Wednesday, 14 December 2016

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Minister Ramsay’s amendment, and clearly we support the parliamentary agreement which will end subsidies to the industry and will lead to a transition out of this industry.

MR PARTON (Brindabella) (12.19): In closing, I want to respond to some of the things that have been said, and speak to the amendment. The minister spoke of the New South Wales special commission of inquiry into the greyhound racing industry, the McHugh report. Again this does not link it at all to evidence in the ACT because there is none. What we heard from the minister was selective quoting of information in order to prop up what is an unviable argument, if you look at the facts. We are talking here about guilt by association. By doing so we are also creating uncertainty for all of the racing codes in the ACT. I am also appalled by the lack of consultation.

Ms Le Couteur spoke of the wastage figures. In the McHugh report, those wastage figures have been proven now to be absolutely incorrect. The reality is that 6.9 per cent were humanely euthanased for a number of reasons. It is a lower rate than you would find out at the RSPCA, for example. With respect to other allocations of dogs, 55.4 per cent remained with owners and trainers or were rehomed, and 25 per cent died from natural causes.

In closing, I want to say that this is obviously a very emotional issue for a number of people, and some of them are with us here today. I have enormous respect for both Ms Le Couteur and Mr Ramsay. I have known them for a long time, and I would hope that you can examine this issue further. I would dare you to stare these people who are here today in the face and tell them that they are cruel to their animals, because they are not. I would urge you, as we suggested in a conversation yesterday, to go and speak with Dr Tim Mather and to go out to the greyhounds. One of the first things that will strike you when you go out to Symonston is the number of wagging tails that you will see, because the dogs are just loving it.

At this stage of the game, I wish I could go to a commercial break but I cannot, so I do not know how I should close this now. Madam Speaker, you might have to get me out of this mess.

MADAM SPEAKER: If you have finished speaking, just resume your seat.

MR PARTON: All right.

Question put:

That the amendment be agreed to.

The Assembly voted—

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