Greens call for ban on Mandurah greyhounds

Greens MP Lynn McLaren said a ban on the industry must be national and would include the closure of Mandurah Greyhounds, which generates $38 million in economic benefit to the Peel region every year.

“We must act now in response to the overwhelming evidence that has led NSW and ACT to ban greyhound racing because of systematic cruelty,” she said.

“Many of the reasons to end greyhound racing identified in the NSW investigation are evident here in WA, too.

“Track injuries often result in excruciating pain and euthanasia, hundreds of healthy dogs bred for racing are euthanised every year because they are no longer, or never were, able to compete against other dogs.”

She said 800 dogs had been euthanised in the past two years in WA.

But racing and gaming minister Colin Holt said the industry in WA was better supervised and regulated than in NSW.

“The NSW Government’s July 7 decision to shut down that state’s greyhound industry from mid-2017 has sent shock waves through the national racing fraternity,” he said.

“Western Australia’s greyhound industry is significantly smaller than other states with only three licensed tracks which enables a higher degree of supervision and regulation.

“There is no evidence to suggest the systemic issues, such as live baiting, in NSW exists in Western Australia’s industry.”

He said Racing and Wagering WA, in co-operation with RSPCA officers, launched an extensive investigation into WA’s greyhound industry, which uncovered no evidence of live baiting.

“WA has the harshest penalties of any Australian jurisdiction in matters concerning animal welfare in racing,” he said.

“Anyone suspected of breaching the rules in any of the three racing codes within Western Australia will be investigated swiftly and, if found guilty, penalised to the full extent of the law.”

But Mr Holt is set to be replaced as minister in the coming weeks after standing aside to allow new Nationals leader Brendon Grylls to resume a place in cabinet.

A spokesperson from Racing and Wagering WA said the greyhounds industry generated 374 full time jobs in Mandurah and the Peel region, with more than 21,000 track attendances a year.

“The issues specific to NSW – which instigated the McHugh Inquiry – need to be understood in the context of size and scale of industry,” she said.

“Western Australia maintains three racetracks, with a relative population of greyhounds to maintain racing at those three racetracks.

“All stages of a greyhound’s life cycle are monitored and regulated by the RWWA which oversees breeding, racing and retirement management.”