ON behalf of Lifeline Australia I would like to set the record straight on the recent comments made by Alex Ferguson, the executive director of Lifeline Central West, regarding the decision to end greyhound racing in NSW.
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Lifeline Australia is a confederation-based organisation with independent centres.
Mr Ferguson’s comments that the NSW Government’s decision to ban the greyhound racing industry was based “on very doubtful grounds and a report that is being questioned” do not reflect Lifeline Australia's position or any position developed in consultation between our centres.
To be clear, while there may be social impacts from the greyhound racing ban, there is no evidence to suggest there is a direct link to suicidality.
Suicide is a highly complex behaviour and it is never accurate to attribute it to one cause.
Moreover, doing so can unnecessarily distress vulnerable people.
Lifeline does not claim a position on whether a government policy is the right or wrong decision – our job is simply to support those in crisis.
We have approximately 3500 community volunteers on the phones across Australia, including in the Central West, who are available to all those in crisis.
In the case of the NSW Government’s intention to ban greyhound racing, Lifeline Australia is currently working with the Baird Government on how best to assist those who may be in crisis, including ensuring that those involved in the greyhound industry know that we are there for them, and will unconditionally listen and support them, as we do all our callers.
Pete Shmigel, Lifeline Australia CEO
Domestic pet cruelty being forgotten in the debate
I HAVE read with interest the “facts” presented in regard to greyhound racing.
I would like to understand the “facts” on cruelty to domestically-owned pets.
In my experience, the evidence I’ve seen from greyhound owners is that they feed their dogs better than themselves and provide a quality of medical care higher than they provide of themselves.
As a domestic pet owner and a previous greyhound owner and having been involved with council committees with our local dog pound, the facts I have gleaned are that there is significant cruelty to domestically owned animals.
I have not had the same experience with greyhound owners.
Do we now have to wonder if domestic pet ownership is under threat?
Grahame Danaher
Census hullabaloo makes no sense to retiree
I CAN’T understand the fuss. I am 71 and filled in the census form in five minutes on my phone.
I waited till Friday as it was obvious the system would crash if everyone logged on at once. I also was shunted to Sensis but used my commonsense and tried the Australian Bureau of Statistics. Hardly rocket science.
As for people upset about their forms being returned by Australia Post, I have had this problem. Annoying but not the fault of the ABS.
As for privacy, Coles knows more about me from my buying patterns than you could glean from the census. Is this country intellectually challenged?
