NSW deputy premier and member for Monaro John Barilaro has slammed the ACT government's decision to ban greyhound racing and would welcome the sport's relocation across the border.
Subscribe now for unlimited access.
$0/
(min cost $0)
or signup to continue reading
In light of the ACT's announcement on Friday to ban greyhound racing in the territory by July 2018, Mr Barilaro backed it moving just eight kilometres away to Queanbeyan.
Mr Barilaro was elected deputy premier following a politically disastrous decision by the NSW government to ban the sport, which was later reversed.
"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.
"I am shocked a little bit. They went into the ACT elections saying they were going to cut funding but not close down the industry. Now close to mid-term of this government they've decided to shutdown the industry. It was a tricky thing for them to do."
Mr Barilaro said when NSW tried to ban greyhound racing, the evidence wasn't strong enough to support it.
"What was clear in the message [from the community] was that if the industry is so bad, why hasn't the government clamped down and fixed it.
"The question will be on the ACT government, have they done everything they can to regulate the industry and put welfare front and centre?"
ACT Attorney-General Gordon Ramsay reiterated his commitment to stand firm and outlaw the sport by the end of June 2018, after an independent report by Mary Durkin found it was "impossible" to separate the ACT industry from the track record of Greyhound Racing NSW.
The minister said the sport was "out of step with community expectations" and had no future in the territory.
"What happens within NSW is a matter for the NSW government," the minister said.
"We can no longer turn a blind eye to what has occurred within this industry. The NSW government is spending $41 million to address serious failures to uphold animal welfare standards. The prospect of those behaviours coming into the ACT is an unacceptable risk to animal welfare here," he said.
Canberra Greyhound Racing Club chairman Alan Tutt welcomed the proposal to move across the border if the ACT could not be shifted on their decision, but remained adamant the priority was to fight to keep the sport in the capital.
"I reckon it's a great idea, we would be there with bells on," Mr Tutt said, suggesting the entire operation could up and move the short distance.
Greyhound racing events were historically held at the Queanbeyan Showground.
Queanbeyan-Palerang Regional Council administrator Tim Overall said he would help facilitate the discussion of bringing the sport to Queanbeyan but a decision would require an in-depth assessment.
For racing to once again take place in Queanbeyan, Greyhound Racing NSW would need to grant a licence for a new track and club.
