Page 5158 - Week 14 - Tuesday, 28 November 2017

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As I said when I introduced the bill, the government is aware that ending greyhound racing will have a significant impact on those who are actively involved in the industry, some of whom have been for many generations. So the decision to end greyhound racing is not about punishing or targeting these people, as has been claimed by some industry lobbyists. It is a decision that is firmly and solely rooted in concern for animal welfare.

We know that industry transition is seldom an easy approach for those who are involved. The government has established the greyhound industry transition task force to assist the people and the racing dogs involved in the industry to transition out of it. The task force continues to accept applications for transition support, and will continue to do so until 30 June next year.

These amendments will commence on 30 April next year, which leaves industry two months from the cessation of racing in the ACT to register for transition support. Further, the government has decided to roll over the $1.033 million in transition funding available to allow transition support packages to be finalised by 30 September next year.

Not all people involved in the industry in the ACT will take up the opportunity to transition out of it. Some may continue to breed and train racing greyhounds in the ACT. However, this will be on the basis of heightened animal welfare controls and at no cost to the community.

The Minister for Transport and City Services will shortly speak to her bill, which provides for specialist regulation and control to enable appropriate protection for greyhounds that are based in the ACT that will continue to race elsewhere.

Finally, in turning to Assembly matters, I would like to thank the Standing Committee on Justice and Community Safety for its considered review of this package of bills in its scrutiny report No 12. This is a piece of legislation that will implement an important animal welfare reform and that will do so on a time line that gives workers in the industry time to get support to transition. I commend the bill to the Assembly.

Question put:

That this bill be agreed to in principle.

The Assembly voted—

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