Mike Baird continues to be the subject of backlash in relation to his ban on greyhound racing and it appears that he is set to respond by backing down and repealing or amending the controversial new laws.
The government is said to be replacing the ban with proposed reforms including a limit on the number of greyhounds bred, a register of greyhounds that monitors their activity from birth to death, and a redesign to existing racetracks with mechanisms such as wider starting boxes to prevent injury.
Now, I must declare an interest here as I hold a minor share in a greyhound in NSW. When the ban was announced, I said that if the contents of the report that formed the basis of Mike Baird’s decision to ban the industry were true, then I believe more strongly in the humane treatment of all animals than I do in the survival of the greyhound industry. I said that serious reform was necessary, and I stand by that view. Unfortunately for Mr Baird it appears that a lack of consultation with the public, together with a flawed report on the state of the industry, has led to a rather embarrassing blight on his political record.
This is arguably not the first time the Baird government has enacted legislation without appropriate consideration of the interests of all stakeholders. Just this week thousands of people marched through central Sydney campaigning against the state’s controversial lock out laws.
While the events that led to this particular instance of law reform were absolutely tragic, they were the exception to the rule. The vast majority of people who enjoyed Sydney’s nightlife were not subject to or the perpetrators of alcohol fuelled violence.
Two years on and members of the public and an industry which Sydney had become so well known for are still up in arms about a decision made by a government who are struggling to understand what their constituents want when it comes to moral and social issues.
The overwhelming message seems to be that just because Mike Baird doesn’t spend his Saturdays betting on the dogs or embracing Sydney’s nightlife doesn’t mean that his constituents don’t.
At present, Baird’s tenure as Premier is being defined by two major law reforms. One that he is said to backflip on by the end of the week, and another that a significant portion of the population are at odds with. It will be interesting to see if people vote with their feet at the next election, and if we do have a change of government, what the legal implications of this will be.
