Nick Broadbent  is intrigued by the political obsession with banning greyhound racing in NSW. 

I would be more intrigued that, after an inquiry and an 800-page report – 11 thick volumes – condemning the misdeeds of the industry, Luke Foley has staged an attempt to overturn the ban. 

This could be seen as an attempt to block a state Liberals/Nationals decision for political gain to protect “Labor’s heartland”. 

The ACT Labor government has had no qualms about banning racing in their territory, however. 

The report uses words like “horrific” and “confronting”, not words to be used if a slap on the wrist and a fine is going to be enough. 

Nick states that most greyhound owners “adore their animals”. 

If that is true, there should be no problem in allowing these adored dogs to become part of their family if the ban goes ahead. 

If you are a part of the industry – you are, in actual fact, part of the problem, by proxy at the very least.

If you breed or own greyhounds, and cannot name exactly where each and every dog you have bred is, then you have also lost the right to cry poor now.

In regards to the claim that the rewards are modest, the industry has recently stated that they have tens of millions of dollars to protect their livelihoods and overturn a ban.

If he has read the report, he would know that greyhound “wastage” – industry speak for killing – is 48-68,000 mostly young, healthy dogs considered not good for racing. 

Seventy-four to 96 per cent are put down before the age of 42 months, and of the 8000-plus pups bred in NSW in 2014, 7000 will never race. 

With struggling greyhound rehoming centres, of which most are run by volunteers, only around 600 are rehomed annually.

Maybe Australia has evolved enough to not want greyhounds being bled out at vets, used in dental experiments, sent overseas to the death pits of Asia, and killed when they aren’t fast enough or interested in racing. 

Of the many injured greyhounds in races, many suffer catastrophic injuries, including broken backs, skull fractures etc. This is not to mention the horrific misery of kittens, possums, rabbits and other small animals used in live baiting.

Nick also states that “most sports have undergone or are undergoing these pressures” ( influences that gambling puts on a sport.) 

Most sports do not allow a bullet in the head when the participant doesn’t win or decides they don’t want to run/play that day!

Kevin Anderson has a responsibility to listen to what his constituents want. 

If greyhound racing is legal and operational in only eight countries worldwide and five states in the United States, maybe that says it all.