Page 5148 - Week 14 - Tuesday, 28 November 2017
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those dogs is significant. I do not think that that is something we can condone in this territory. That is why we are supporting this legislation today.
Mr Parton made reference to hearsay and innuendo; that nothing has been found in 38 years. I come back to that point. I have heard this time and time again and it has been reported in the media. People are accepting this line that there have never been any animal welfare issues for the greyhound industry in the ACT. The term “unblemished record” has been used regularly. I do not consider self-reported figures of animals having to be euthanised by the track because they are so badly injured to be an unblemished record. That is not an unblemished record; that is a record of death and injury that this territory should not tolerate.
The Greens are proud to support this legislation today. We think this is an important step forward for animal welfare in the ACT. We thank those in the community who have worked so hard to highlight some of the issues that have brought this matter to the fore both here and across the nation.
MS LE COUTEUR (Murrumbidgee) (4.25): I rise today to support the view that greyhound racing is an outdated industry that just promotes animal exploitation. It is an issue that, as I said earlier, the Greens have been pushing for years and years. I am very pleased that today should see the end of greyhound racing in the ACT.
As my colleague Mr Rattenbury mentioned, there has been extensive evidence provided through the Durkin report in the ACT and the McHugh report in New South Wales which confirmed many animal welfare issues, including dog deaths, injuries, live baiting, use of banned substances and wastage of dogs. These are endemic to the greyhound racing industry.
As well as this, recently released stewards’ reports from the Canberra Greyhound Racing Club show that another greyhound was euthanised following a race on 17 September this year, having sustained a fractured hock in the race. Two other dogs at the same meeting sustained serious injuries and both were given stand-down periods of 56 days. These are the realities of greyhound racing. That is why the Greens have called for an end to this sport in the ACT. We do not believe that this is an industry that can be reformed. Worldwide there are very few jurisdictions that still allow greyhound racing, because other jurisdictions have come to this conclusion. It is not an industry that can be reformed.
Earlier this year we saw the removal of the $1 million ACT government subsidy to the Canberra Greyhound Racing Club, which was an important first step to bringing this industry to an end. Today’s legislation makes the commitment to ending it a reality. The bill before us will see greyhound racing banned in the ACT and stronger animal welfare safeguards put in place for those who choose to own, breed or train greyhounds in Canberra.
I am very proud that the ACT will be the first jurisdiction in Australia to take this important step. It is a fantastic win for all the animal rights activists who have worked tirelessly to bring attention to the inhumane practices of the greyhound industry for many years.
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