Wagga’s greyhound industry has opposed the ACT’s “harsh” decision to ban racing and will “fight for the Canberra club to stay open”.
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Racing manager John Patton said banning dog racing had claimed the scalp of a NSW Premier and he believed the ACT’s Labor government was simply pursuing a “greenie” policy.
“I think it’s pretty rash, but they’re fighting it and we’ll continue to support the owners and trainers,” he said.
“They got onto the coat-tails of the NSW Liberal government, but they’ve woken up and now understand it was a bad decision, a wrong decision.”
NSW deputy premier and member for Monaro John Barilaro slammed the ACT government’s decision to ban greyhound racing and said he would welcome the sport’s relocation across the border.
“We know what happened in NSW with taking on the industry and we've accepted we got it wrong,” Mr Barilaro said.
“There’s now an opportunity to make sure the ACT government doesn't get it wrong, killing off an industry that is important to the fabric of this community.”
Mr Barilaro said given a greyhound racing track doesn’t exist in his electorate, the breeders and trainers relied on the Canberra racing club.
“If we don’t have the track there in Canberra, then where do they go,” he questioned.
“It’s an opportunity for Queanbeyan to be part of a new era of greyhound racing.”
Mr Barilaro said the state acknowledged there were issues in the industry, but on the whole it deserved a second chance, with stronger regulation to protect the dogs.
He said the ACT government could suffer politically from the decision.
Mr Patton said it would be a tough battle and building a track in Queanbeyan would take a lot of work.