THE State Government has welcomed a decision by Racing and Wagering Western Australia (RWWA) to enforce automatic bans for anyone in the greyhound industry caught live baiting.
Racing and Gaming Minister Colin Holt said strengthening the penalties for live baiting after this week’s Four Corners expose on the practice in the eastern states, would send a strong message to the WA greyhound industry and public that the practice would never be tolerated.
“I want to make it clear that no evidence has been presented of live-baiting occurring in WA,” Mr Holt said.
“However, I welcome today’s announcement by RWWA’s Integrity Assurance Committee for a hard-line approach to anyone found guilty of this abhorrent practice.”
Under the RWWA rule changes, the minimum penalty for live baiting will increase from a 12-month disqualification to at least 10 years and a fine of $50,000.
“This means for at least 10 years a person found guilty of live baiting will not be able to step foot on to any racetrack or even place a bet,” the Minister said.
“Further, any person found guilty of live baiting will be banned from the greyhound industry for life and prevented from any future registered involvement in the sport. You won’t own, you won’t train, you won’t touch the dogs ever again.”
Where an offence occurs on the ground under the control or management of the licensee or manager of a greyhound trial track, the registration of the track and of any person concerned with the management of that track may be cancelled.
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