Page 48 - Week 01 - Tuesday, 13 December 2016
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this industry in the ACT is predominantly a New South Wales industry—New South Wales trainers, New South Wales dogs coming into Canberra to race.
Mrs Jones interjecting—
MR BARR: Fundamentally the decision that the government has taken is that we will no longer provide taxpayer subsidies, which are in the order of $1 million a year, to provide prize money to New South Wales trainers to come in and win at the Canberra track. Fundamentally it is an economic question but I think it is also a moral question around animal welfare, and the concerns that have been raised locally by the RSPCA—
Mrs Jones interjecting—
MR BARR: nationally by a number of organisations and highlighted not just in the New South Wales commission of investigation but also by the ABC on the Four Corners programs, ought to be concerning to all members. So the interjections—the continued interjections—from Mrs Jones are very disappointing.
MR PARTON: You have mentioned concerns raised by the RSPCA. I want to know what evidence you have that demonstrates anything regarding these concerns in the ACT.
MR BARR: The RSPCA have raised numerous concerns, and, more importantly, what has happened in New South Wales—
Opposition members interjecting—
MR BARR: what was exposed on the Four Corners program, the live baiting, the poor treatment of animals within the industry, the overbreeding—
Opposition members interjecting—
MR BARR: the fact of wastage within the industry—they are all legitimate concerns—
Opposition members interjecting—
MR BARR: and the New South Wales government, in spite of their backdown under pressure from the Daily Telegraph and from Alan Jones—so we know who really loves the state of New South Wales. In spite of those backdowns, the New South Wales government is still very heavily involved in the regulation of this industry—
Opposition members interjecting—
MR BARR: and change is needed. We will no longer be providing taxpayer subsidies to greyhound racing in the ACT.
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