Page 5144 - Week 14 - Tuesday, 28 November 2017
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decisions. He even left it as late as 10 to six the night before the tabling of this legislation to notify the industry of his intentions. This is just further proof of the minister saying that he is doing one thing while actually doing another. The Canberra community deserves better than this poor excuse for leadership from a poor minister who is clearly in over his head. From multiple policy positions to contradictions within his own presentation speech, this minister has proven that he has an inability to perform his duties to the Canberra community.
This debate is not about greyhound racing anymore. It is about a bullied and vilified section of our community standing up for freedom, standing up against government bullying and lack of process. ACT Labor are about to become the only branch of the Labor Party anywhere in Australia not supporting greyhound racing; they should all feel ashamed of themselves. We will not be supporting this pathetic excuse for legislation.
MR RATTENBURY (Kurrajong) (4.11): The Greens do believe that the time has come for an end to greyhound racing in the ACT, and we are pleased to support these bills today that put that policy into effect.
I appreciate that this moment represents a difficult point in time for some people within the greyhound industry, but we believe that the time has come to acknowledge the toll on the animals used in this commercial operation and draw a curtain on this part of our history.
The reality is that, despite the ACT greyhound racing industry’s claims of an unblemished animal welfare record, the Canberra Greyhound Racing Club’s own reports provide a record of the many dog deaths and injuries that have occurred here in the ACT. This is proof positive that the industry is unable to operate without these kinds of unacceptable animal welfare outcomes and shows why we need the legislation that is before us today.
Of course, the decision to end greyhound racing in the ACT was not taken lightly or without considerable evidence. That evidence is plain to see in stewards’ reports, with the following incidents recorded in the five years between 2012 and 2016: 26 greyhounds experienced catastrophic injuries and were euthanised track side; 39 greyhounds experienced major injuries; 92 greyhounds experienced medium injuries; and 171 greyhounds experienced minor injuries. So that is evidence of 26 dogs so badly injured that they had to be euthanised track side, and a total of 302 injured simply as a result of participating in a greyhound race in the ACT.
Mr Parton: Out of 20,000, is it?
MR RATTENBURY: To me and to the Greens this is an unacceptable toll of the animals involved. Mr Parton, who we heard in silence despite his many slurs on members this side of the chamber, is interjecting saying, “Out of how many?” So is there an acceptable toll? Is Mr Parton saying that if it is only one per cent it is okay? Is it several hundred that is okay?
Members interjecting—
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