The NSW Greens have welcomed the NSW government’s proposed ban on greyhound racing in NSW, paying tribute to animal welfare activists and their late colleague, Dr John Kaye, for their hard work to end the ‘cruel’ activity.
Greens NSW MP and animal welfare spokesperson Dr Mehreen Faruqi said the move was ‘absolutely incredible and in many ways unprecedented news. This is a win for animals’.
‘Animal welfare activists have worked tirelessly for this outcome for so many years,’ Dr Faruqi said.
‘I must pay credit to the NSW government for taking this long overdue step. The Special Commission of Inquiry report demonstrated the extreme levels of animal cruelty in the industry, including live baiting and the killing of up to 68,000 dogs over the last 12 years.
‘Thousands of people in the community have written letters, rallied at protests and let the government know that they will accept nothing less than a ban on greyhound racing. This is a huge vindication of their efforts.
‘Today is such a special day and such a fitting tribute to my late friend and colleague, Dr John Kaye, who was a passionate advocate for animals and worked tirelessly to see an end to this cruel industry.
‘The report states what many of us already knew; there was no way greyhound racing can operate without the extreme animal cruelty that the Special Commission report has shown.
‘Our focus must now be on the welfare of the animals in the industry to ensure that they are rehomed and given appropriate support,’ Dr Faruqi said.
The move has been widely welcomed by animal welfare groups, veterinary organisations, the Humane Society International and PETA, among others.
But NSW Labor says it will oppose the ban, with opposition leader Luke Foley saying Labor will join forces with the Shooters Fishers and Farmers party and Christian Democrat Fred Nile to oppose the legislation when it’s introduced.
‘And we’re appealing to National MPs to join with Labor, break ranks from these elitist North Shore Liberals and inner-city Greens,’ Mr Foley said.
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