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Legislative Council - Fifty-Third Parliament, Second Session (53-2)
2015-02-24 Daily Xml
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Greyhound Racing

The Hon. T.A. FRANKS (14:43): I seek leave to make a brief explanation before addressing a question on the topic of greyhound racing to the Minister for Sustainability, Environment and Conservation.

Leave granted.

The Hon. T.A. FRANKS: As the minister has made the council aware and, as the South Australian community is well aware, the 'Making a Killing' documentary on Four Corners just over a week ago has exposed horrific practices of live baiting in the greyhound industry. I note that was uncovered through the footage obtained by Animals Australia and Animal Liberation Queensland in the three eastern seaboard mainland states. Associated with that was the response by the Victorian Racing Integrity Commissioner who said that, in fact, only one complaint had been made to his office in the previous five years which had been unfounded and unable to be substantiated, so that documentary came as a shock to him.

There is also the range of concerns that are raised about the industry, which include the number of greyhound pups which will never race and are likely to be euthanased, the number of dogs which are killed on the racetracks each week, and the life of deprivation that some of these animals lead. I note that both you and the Minister for Racing have been working with Greyhound Racing South Australia and the RSPCA to address these issues. My questions are:

1. Will you consider a broad-ranging inquiry into the greyhound racing industry to ensure that the industry is able to maintain a social licence with the community of South Australia?

2. Should you undertake an inquiry, will it cover more than just the live baiting issue? Will it also cover the wastage rate of greyhounds, overbreeding and oversupply, the high rates of injuries on the track, actions taken to safeguard greyhounds' welfare on the track, review of the socialisation and environmental enrichment that is provided, industry transparency and accountability, and review of the adequacy of current legislation to protect these greyhounds, terminal blood collection, and export to other countries with lower animal welfare standards?

The Hon. I.K. HUNTER (Minister for Sustainability, Environment and Conservation, Minister for Water and the River Murray, Minister for Climate Change) (14:45): I thank the honourable member for her most important question. As I said, on Monday 16 February 2015 the Australian Broadcasting Corporation aired an episode of Four Corners entitled 'Making a Killing', which exposed the practice of live baiting in the greyhound racing industry. The footage depicted greyhound trainers interstate using live bait to lure greyhounds around tracks. Again, there has been no evidence of live baiting in South Australia but I think we would be foolish indeed to assume, just on the basis of that, that it could not happen here.

The government has made it very plain to the greyhound racing industry that live baiting will not be tolerated. As I said, both the RSPCA and the industry here in South Australia strongly condemn the practice. It is inhumane. I am also advised it is in total contravention of the rules of racing, and would be illegal under section 13(3)(f) of the Animal Welfare Act 1985.

As I also informed the chamber earlier, the Minister for Racing and I convened a meeting with representatives from Greyhound Racing SA, the RSPCA and other agency staff, including SAPOL, to identify additional measures that are needed to make sure live baiting does not occur in South Australia and to restore public trust in the industry in this state. We have asked Greyhound Racing SA and the RSPCA together to suggest policy or legislative changes that might be implemented to prevent live baiting in South Australia now and into the future. They have undertaken to come back to me within a fortnight with recommendations for such changes. As I said earlier, these abhorrent acts have no place in a civilised society, and we have taken steps to make sure that the shocking incidents that came to light will not be repeated.

I thank the honourable member for her most interesting suggestions about proposed ways forward. At this point in time I am not minded to initiate my own review; I will wait to see what the RSPCA and the greyhound racing industry bring to me. However, at this point I should indicate that the other issues the honourable member alluded to, such as wastage and other issues for the greyhound racing industry, were firmly put on the table and will be addressed between the RSPCA and Greyhound Racing SA as part of the process in which they engaged with me and the Minister for Racing in the other place last week. This will be an ongoing discussion between those two bodies about how they can improve behaviour in the industry.

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