The region’s greyhound industry has lashed out at local National MPs, calling them "puppets on a string", as the legislation to ban greyhound racing is introduced to House of Representatives on Tuesday.
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Barwon MP Kevin Humphries declared he would cross the floor, and explain why in a speech to parliament, but Tamworth MP Kevin Anderson and Northern Tablelands MP Adam Marshall are expected to vote in favour of the ban.
Gunnedah Greyhound Racing Club president Geoff Rose said Mr Anderson and Mr Marshall had “failed to support the people who support them”.
"They haven't got the guts to stand up to the bloke paying them, that is [Nationals' leader] Troy Grant," Mr Rose said.
“I’ve tried to get a meeting with Adam Marshall, he doesn’t want to talk, he just keeps directing me to his office and nothing happens.
"I've talked to Kevin Anderson and he kept saying 'I don't support the ban, but I support the public'."
Mr Rose said while the Tamworth MP had "made himself available", he failed to see Mr Anderson's logic.
"It's pretty simple, if you support the people, don't support the ban," Mr Rose said.
Mr Anderson said rather than "playing grievances out in the media", he had talked directly to local greyhound owners.
Mr Anderson said the decision to ban the sport had already been made and it was his job to get a good compensation deal for the industry.
He will not cross the floor because it would take him "out of the discussion" and the negotiation process.
"In the days gone by, you could cross the floor, chest beat and get a headline in the paper," Mr Anderson said.
"Where does that leave you? It leaves you isolated and unable to support your community.
“My job is to stay in the fight to help the local greyhound racing industry get back on their feet through the assistance package."
However, Mr Rose said greyhound owners didn't want a compensation package, they "want to race the dogs they love".
"We're saying 'take a step back', don't destroy the industry because of a minority – give us a couple of years to prove we can reform before you destroy thousands of jobs and destroy lives,” Mr Rose said.
Mr Humphries said the ban was "ideologically driven" and a "hasty reaction without considering all of the details".
Mr Marshall did not respond to a request for comment.
Jamieson Murphy
Newcastle Herald news director and business reporter. Interested in any and all yarns. Whisper g'day mate to me at jamieson.murphy@austcommunitymedia.com.au
Newcastle Herald news director and business reporter. Interested in any and all yarns. Whisper g'day mate to me at jamieson.murphy@austcommunitymedia.com.au
