[Greens-Media] Media release: NSW Parliament runs cover for racing industry despite outrage over horse deaths

[John Kaye]

NSW Parliament runs cover for racing industry despite outrage over horse deaths
Media release: 5 November 2014
Despite the death of two racehorses in yesterday's Melbourne Cup, the NSW Legislative Council today blocked a Greens motion calling for an independent review of the regulation of animal welfare in the horse racing industry, according to Greens NSW MP John Kaye.

Full text of the motion as defeated can be found below.
Dr Kaye said: "The NSW Parliament has today washed its hands of any responsibility for the treatment for horses in the racing industry.
"Following the tragic events at the Melbourne Cup, many people in the community are asking questions about how the racing industry treats the animals they make millions off. They deserve answers.
"This is not the first time that members of the NSW Liberal-National government have helped run cover for the racing industry.
"During budget estimates the Racing Minister Troy Grant deflected all questions regarding horse deaths and injuries to Racing NSW, a body well outside the reach of parliament.
"The NSW Liberal National party is addicted to the tax from wagering on thoroughbred racing. They are in bed with an industry that makes the rich richer at the expense of problem gamblers and often the welfare of many horses.
"The reality is that the horse deaths yesterday were just the tip of the iceberg.
"While some owners take great care of their animals during and after their racing careers, thousands of horses deemed to be 'too slow' or economically unviable are either abandoned or sent to the knackery.

"Racing NSW wants the public to believe that they love their horses while at the same time refusing to release data on the exact number of injured and 'failed' animals exiting the industry each year.
"Despite the industry's claims that racehorses are afforded the best care, gastric ulcers, bleeding in the lungs from over-exertion and catastrophic limb injuries are all too common.
"Yesterday's tragic turn of events at the Melbourne Cup has demonstrated that the horse racing industry's social licence is on shaky ground.
"Rather than help Racing NSW continue to treat horses as commodities that can be discarded once they are no longer profitable, the NSW Parliament should be responding to community concerns by launching a full and thorough investigation," Dr Kaye said.
For more information: John Kaye 0407 195 455
-------------------------------------------------------------------
John Kaye
Greens NSW MP

P: (02) 9230 2668 | F: facebook.com/john.kaye.mlc<http://www.facebook.com/john.kaye.mlc> | T: @johnkgreens<twitter.com/johnkgreens> | W: www.johnkaye.org.au<http://www.johnkaye.org.au>
Mail: Parliament House, Macquarie Street, Sydney, NSW 2000

This office pays respect to the Gadigal and the other Aboriginal peoples of NSW and acknowledges their ownership of this land.

John Kaye's office is proudly 100% unionised and union-active.

This email is solely for the named addressee and may be confidential. You should only read, disclose, transmit, copy, distribute, act in reliance on or commercialise the contents if you are authorised to do so. If you are not the intended recipient of this email, please notify the sender by email immediately and then destroy any copy of this message. Except where otherwise specifically stated, views expressed in this e-mail are those of the individual sender.
[Description: Description: Description: Description: Description: MC900437266[1]]  Please consider the environment before printing this email.


Melbourne Cup

Dr Kaye to move:

That this house:


1.       Notes that

a.       on Tuesday 4 November 2014 the Melbourne Cup Race will be held at Flemington Racecourse in Victoria

b.      The Melbourne Cup is widely recognised as a day of celebration earmarked by social gatherings, workplace events and participation in minor and largely harmless forms of wagering



2.       Recognises

a.       Only thirty precent of the 18,000 thoroughbred foals born in Australia each year will end up racing.

b.      Significant numbers of failed and injured racehorses are sent to knackeries to be slaughtered, primarily for pet food

c.       A 2012 expose of a Victorian knackery showed horses being beaten, shot in front of one another, dragged across gravel and having their throats and tails cut while still conscious

d.      From the period 1 of August 2013 to 31 July 2014 approximately 125 horses were killed on tracks across Australia, with NSW recording the highest number of deaths at 41. The most common cause of death was catastrophic limb injury.

e.      Many horses in the racing industry suffer from serious health problems due to their diet and training regimes, including gastric ulcers, musculoskeletal injuries and bleeding in the lungs and windpipe

f.        Whipping of thoroughbred race horses, including  incidences that breach the industry's own animal welfare rules, remains widespread despite a University of Sydney study demonstrating that that horses run faster when not being whipped

g.       Wagering on horse racing in NSW contributes to incidences of problem gambling and associated social harms, with higher participation rates among young people.



3.       Congratulates

a.       The Victorian based organisation Coalition for the Protection of Racehorses for their ongoing efforts to expose the high wastage rates and poor treatment of many horses in the racing industry

b.      Organisations and individuals involved in the rescue, rehabilitation and retirement of ex-racehorses.

4.       Calls on the Minister for Gaming and Racing Troy Grant to:

a.       Investigate the thoroughbred racing industry to determine and  resolve

                                                               i.      the systematic over-breeding and wastage rates, and

                                                             ii.      the failure of the industry to institute meaningful programs to rehabilitate and rehome horses that are no longer wanted for racing.

b.      Establish an independent review of Racing NSW with regards to

                                                               i.      its effectiveness in setting, monitoring and enforcing animal welfare standards, and

                                                             ii.      the potential conflict of interest that arises because  one body both regulates and promotes thoroughbred horse racing in NSW