Government officials advised new racing minister Gordon Ramsay to ban greyhound racing in the ACT within 12 months of defunding the sport in Canberra.
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A cache of ministerial briefings and emails released under freedom of information laws have revealed how the government's plans to withdraw $1 million a year to the Canberra greyhound racing industry evolved, after NSW moved to ban the sport in July last year.
The ACT's industry would have been collateral damage, as Greyhound Racing NSW licensed trainers and investigated animal welfare breaches as part of its agreement with the Canberra Greyhound Racing Club.
Briefing notes provided to then racing minister Mick Gentleman in August last year said it was likely the costs of establishing a regulatory framework in the ACT "would outweigh the benefits for the government".
The industry hit back by saying it could instead regulated by Victoria's peak body. In a proposal submitted to Mr Gentleman, the Canberra Greyhound Racing Club outlined plans to make the ACT a haven for greyhound racing.
Their plans ranged from a "moderate expansion of racing in the ACT" to setting up a Centre of Excellence in which the ACT would "become the national home of greyhounds" in which a "significant race schedule will transform the local industry to a multi-million dollar industry".
However the NSW government's subsequent reversal of the ban in favour of tighter regulation somewhat dampened the proposal.
A ministerial brief to Attorney-General Gordon Ramsay, dated December 1, 2016, said there was still a possibility to grow greyhound racing in Canberra despite the backflip, given that the NSW government had vowed to close down race tracks.
The growth could be as such that it could be possible for the industry to get by without government assistance.
"As the withdrawal of funding is not assured of resulting in in an end to the industry in the ACT to end the operation of the industry it will be necessary to amend relevant legislation to in effect prohibit the activity of greyhound racing," the brief said.
"Subject to confirmation of the required legislative changes and any associated actions it will be necessary to clarify the timeframe for implementation of the prohibition. Subject to discussions with industry it is suggested that a maximum period of 12 months from the end of the current memorandum of understanding (MoU) be provided to transition to the end of greyhound racing in the ACT."
The legislative amendments needed to ban the sport were described in another document as "straightforward".
Before the election, the government appeared to be reluctant to outlaw the sport until two reviews were completed: one on the soon-to-expire $8 million per annum MoU with the racing industry; and a review into the future of greyhound racing in the ACT in light of the NSW ban. The reviews would have cost an estimated $300,000.
Because of the timing of the ACT election and the different policy platforms of the major parties on the port, the reviews stagnated.
Both ACT Labor and the ACT Greens went to the October with plans to defund the greyhound racing industry, which later became a part of their parliamentary agreement.
Their power-sharing deal also included a clause to take practical steps that would lead towards the end of the industry.
A brief to Mr Ramsay, dated November 15 2016, said if the government decided to simply withdraw the $1 million from greyhound racing, a review into the future of the industry might not be warranted.
Mr Ramsay last month appointed former health services commissioner Mary Durkin as an independent consultant to determine how the ACT should phase out greyhound racing.
Mr Ramsay told Fairfax Media at the time: "We have no plans to change the law on July 1 however we will cease funding the industry after July 1 2017. There is no future for the greyhound industry in the ACT."
