Canberra Greyhound Racing Club president Alan Tutt says he is appalled by the ACT government's lacklustre reaction to revelations of wastage in the horse racing industry, after it banned greyhound racing following a similar scandal in 2018.
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Mr Tutt said the breaches of animal welfare shown on the ABC's 7.30 last month were "more cruel" than those depicted in greyhound racing on Four Corners in 2015.
The latest program exposed the mass slaughter of former racehorses at abattoirs, and aired accusations of multiple instances of animal cruelty.
The 2015 program included allegations of the destruction of unwanted dogs, and showed secret surveillance footage of animals being used as live bait for greyhounds to increase their performance on the track.
"They should be shutting down animal racing here based on [the revelations in 7.30], and they didn't do it," Mr Tutt said.
"They persecuted the greyhound industry and the reason I think they did is because we're blue collar workers, the little battlers. They wanted to take a little stick to someone and they took it to us."
Mr Tutt said the ACT government's decision to allow horse racing to continue in the territory contradicted its overall stance on animal racing, made evident by its ban on greyhounds.
He said there was a marked difference between the two sports: "We don't whip our dogs to run. They run because they want to run."
The greyhound racing community was "never going to give up coming back" to the ACT, he said, despite this week marking the end of the club's Federal Court dispute with the government for compensation.
The claim was made on the grounds the club had lost money from not being able to race on their Symonston track. Both parties agreed to cease proceedings and pay their own legal costs, but Mr Tutt maintains they have been put out by only being allowed to exercise dogs.
Members have to travel to NSW to compete, where the greyhound racing ban was overturned.
"The effect on a trainer locally here would be probably adding an extra $10,000 a year for fuel and upkeep," Mr Tutt said.
His brother, Rob Tutt, added: "The drag on us physically and mentally is pretty hard."
They persecuted the greyhound industry and the reason I think they did is because we're blue collar workers, the little battlers. They wanted to take a little stick to someone and they took it to us.
- Canberra Greyhound Racing Club president Alan Tutt
Another ACT Labor-Greens government could end horse racing in the territory, and those with stakes in Thoroughbred Park would be "looking behind their backs", Alan Tutt said.
A spokesman for the government said there were no known issues in horse racing in the capital, and the Minister for Community Services, Chris Steel, and the Attorney-General, Gordon Ramsay, had written to Canberra Racing for assurance.
The organisation's chief executive, Andrew Clark, previously condemned the behaviour in the ABC's report as "abhorrent", saying anyone involved would be unwelcome in the ACT industry.
"I hope that those who have done the wrong thing have the full weight of the law come down on them," he said in October.
No malpractice was found in the territory's greyhound racing industry following the live baiting scandal.
Canberra Greyhound Racing Club's lease was due to run out in 2027. The club lost a court bid to be granted a new lease in December last year, but Mr Tutt was confident the ACT government would not take back the land if it used the venue for community activities.
The club planned for sporting groups to be able to use its oval by February 2020. The government spokesman said the future of the site post 2027 was yet to be determined.
Cassandra Morgan
It has never been more important for Canberrans to be able to access reliable and accurate information about health. As The Canberra Times’ health reporter, I am committed to ensuring our readers have access to this. I, like many in the territory, have family members who work in the sector. Although providing comprehensive coverage on the coronavirus pandemic is obviously my number one priority, I aim to frequently shed light on the fantastic work our frontline professionals do, as well as the challenges they face. Email me tips and story ideas at: c.morgan@canberratimes.com.au.
It has never been more important for Canberrans to be able to access reliable and accurate information about health. As The Canberra Times’ health reporter, I am committed to ensuring our readers have access to this. I, like many in the territory, have family members who work in the sector. Although providing comprehensive coverage on the coronavirus pandemic is obviously my number one priority, I aim to frequently shed light on the fantastic work our frontline professionals do, as well as the challenges they face. Email me tips and story ideas at: c.morgan@canberratimes.com.au.
