Five days after unfurling a defence of New South Wales‘ impending greyhound racing ban on Facebook, the state’s premier Mike Baird has condensed his reasoning into a 14-point Twitter bombardment.
In a slew of posts, Baird manages to address the cruelty, obfuscation, and dire financial realities endemic to the industry. Policy justifications via Twitter? Sure, it’s questionable in theory, astounding in practice:
Had a hard but constructive discussion with greyhound industry reps. Reiterated this is a difficult decision based on Mr McHugh’s report.
— Mike Baird (@mikebairdMP) July 14, 2016
I encourage everyone to actually read the report into greyhound racing. I did. I didn’t need to read it twice. Here’s a sample in 14 tweets.
— Mike Baird (@mikebairdMP) July 14, 2016
The industry “has implicitly condoned as well as caused, the unnecessary deaths of tens of thousands of healthy greyhounds.” (1.113)
— Mike Baird (@mikebairdMP) July 14, 2016
“It is not uncommon… for unwanted greyhounds to be drained of their blood under anaesthetic before being euthanased.” (21.5)
— Mike Baird (@mikebairdMP) July 14, 2016
The industry “has engaged in the barbaric practice of live baiting.” (1.113)
— Mike Baird (@mikebairdMP) July 14, 2016
One trainer said after using a live rabbit as a lure he’d unclip the rabbit, break its neck, gut it and then throw it to the pups. (3.200)
— Mike Baird (@mikebairdMP) July 14, 2016
But wait, there’s more.
“It is an industry where the peak body – Greyhounds Australasia – has said that the industry has preferred profits to welfare”. (1.44)
— Mike Baird (@mikebairdMP) July 14, 2016
Giving the industry further time to address overbreeding and “wastage” appears likely to be fruitless. (1.135)
— Mike Baird (@mikebairdMP) July 14, 2016
The industry “has caused and will continue to cause injuries to greyhounds that range from minor to catastrophic.” (1.113)
— Mike Baird (@mikebairdMP) July 14, 2016
“The Commission finds that GRNSW’s policy of misreporting of injuries, was calculated, and intended, to mislead the general public.” (4.115)
— Mike Baird (@mikebairdMP) July 14, 2016
Dwindling Crowds: In 2015, an ave 352 persons attended race meetings at metro tracks and just 78 people attended at non-TAB tracks. (28.106)
— Mike Baird (@mikebairdMP) July 14, 2016
The industry’s own proposal is to reduce the current 34 tracks by at least 20, closing tracks across regional NSW. (28.107)
— Mike Baird (@mikebairdMP) July 14, 2016
Even if the industry could reform, “the outlook for participants is bleak”. (27.46)
— Mike Baird (@mikebairdMP) July 14, 2016
Only 8 countries allow commercial greyhound racing. Worldwide, the social licences of the industry are being withdrawn. (1.112)
— Mike Baird (@mikebairdMP) July 14, 2016
“It appears unlikely that the issue of the large scale killing of healthy greyhounds…can be addressed successfully in the future.” (1.125)
— Mike Baird (@mikebairdMP) July 14, 2016
“The Commission is of the view that the industry has lost the integrity-based trust of the community.” (1.113)
— Mike Baird (@mikebairdMP) July 14, 2016
Christ.
Swiftly following up that litany of anti-racing reasoning, Baird again said those who are currently enmeshed in the industry will be offered assistance during the shutdown period:
I feel deep empathy for innocent participants & we will work to support them. But the report is clear and the right decision has been made.
— Mike Baird (@mikebairdMP) July 14, 2016
The Tweets end with a pledge to push through the relevant legislation when parliament resumes, and an assurance it’ll pass. That’s quite possibly the only redeeming feature of the entire screed, TBQH.
If you’re interested / mentally and emotionally prepared, you can read the full report here. Bonus: If you’re even curious about giving one of these fantastic pups a new home once their racing days are over, have a gander right here.
Source: Mike Baird / Twitter.
Photo: Matthias Hangst / Getty.
