Page 5163 - Week 14 - Tuesday, 28 November 2017
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alter the legal framework in the territory to remove provision for greyhound racing. In my capacity as minister with responsibility for animal welfare and domestic animals, I speak to reforms that directly address concerns that are troubling many other jurisdictions across the country.
The ACT community has a high level of awareness about animal welfare, and this contributes to high expectations about how all animals are cared for and managed. That is why the government has a strong commitment to best practice in animal welfare and management. The territory’s recently adopted animal welfare and management strategy is an example of this commitment. The strategy builds on the existing framework of legislation, codes of practice, guidelines and management plans already in place to more effectively regulate animal welfare and management practice in the ACT. It includes a clear vision and aspirational objectives for all animals in the ACT, whether they are pets, working or wild animals, livestock, racing or displayed in zoos. To ensure that this vision is realised, the strategy is underpinned by tangible outcomes and actions to ensure best practice management.
One of the messages we have heard from our community is a concern that the commercial greyhound racing industry has been shown to pose unacceptable risks to the lives and welfare of greyhounds. The vast majority of those risks stem from practices in other jurisdictions where this government has no power to act. I have also received representations from members of the community expressing concern for the welfare of racing greyhounds, including grave concern for the injuries, wellbeing and ongoing welfare of racing greyhounds following their involvement in racing activities.
There are two ways that we can take and have taken action. We have moved to stop racing activity here in the ACT, where almost all participating greyhounds have been shown to come from New South Wales. While this removes only one stop on a much larger regional circuit of racing for many greyhound owners and syndicates, it is the only stop that this government has the ability to close down. The second way that we are acting to better protect greyhounds involved in or intended for racing is to introduce an improved framework for monitoring and supporting those people in the ACT who continue to be involved in breeding, training or owning greyhounds for racing elsewhere.
From 30 April 2018, these amendments make it an offence to conduct or facilitate the conduct of a greyhound race in the ACT. It will also be unlawful for a person to allow a greyhound to take part in a greyhound race in the ACT. For the purposes of these reforms, greyhound racing is defined broadly and includes racing for trialling or training purposes. It will be unlawful to competitively race greyhounds with a live bait or a mechanical lure, or using entirely different methods.
The prohibition has never been intended to capture the ordinary play of a non-racing dog; nor will it do so. Greyhound racing, for the purposes of this bill, means one or more greyhounds racing “in competitive pursuit”. This is a concept that is common to legal definitions of greyhound racing in Australia and internationally and it clearly does not extend to a prohibition on recreational or non-competitive play of greyhounds.
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