ONE year since the Mike Baird-conceived greyhound racing ban was a defining issue in the Orange by-election, it’s been decided the Central West will house a new body critical to ensuring the industry’s survival and prosperity.
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Up to 60 new jobs will be created when the Greyhound Welfare and Integrity Commission – established in February in the wake of the Baird Government’s disastrous bid to shut the greyhound industry in NSW – opens its headquarters in Bathurst next year.
A report into the sustainable future of greyhound racing recommended the commission as a way of separating the integrity arm of the industry from the governing board.
Racing Minister and Bathurst MP Paul Toole said the new Bathurst headquarters would be home for the commission’s CEO, along with administration staff, secretarial support and stewards.
“Ultimately it will be up to the CEO how many staff are employed, but we expect around 30 to 60 in total,” he said.
“The staff will be based in Bathurst but they will be mobile, visiting other tracks across the state.
“It’s a central location with good access to 34 racing tracks across NSW and there is a good presence of greyhounds breeders, owners and trainers here already.”
Mr Toole was among the government MPs that voted in August 2016 to shut down the greyhound industry before becoming the minister charged with saving it following Mike Baird’s departure as premier.
The aftermath also saw member for Dubbo Troy Grant resign his post as state leader of the Nationals Party and deputy premier.
The issue was a central plank of now member for Orange Phil Donato’s successful by-election campaign, which saw the Shooters, Fishers and Farmers Party candidate narrowly defeat Nationals favourite Scott Barrett.
Mr Toole said the government had listened to the community in backflipping on its decision to close down greyhound racing.
“The government has realised this industry is very strong in regional NSW and that there are a lot of good people involved who treat their dogs as part of the family,” Mr Toole said.
“The ones we should be cracking down on with proper penalties are those who are doing the wrong thing.”
Mr Toole confirmed that the commission would be run out of leased office space near the Bathurst Post Office building.
