[Greens-Media] Media release: Greens reject tax-breaks for greyhound racing industry

[John Kaye]

Greens reject tax-breaks for greyhound racing industry

Media release: 16 October 2014

A NSW parliamentary committee's recommendation that the greyhound racing industry be given up to $120 million a year in state gambling tax-breaks will not solve the animal welfare crisis nor will it help small participants who look after their dogs, according to Greens NSW MP John Kaye.

The Upper House committee second report on greyhound racing in New South Wales (available at http://j.mp/GreyHrept2), tabled today, recommends:

"That the NSW Government implement a staged reduction in taxation rates on wagering to ensure New South Wales racing is competitive with racing codes in other States (particularly Victoria)"

Dr Kaye said: "The Committee's own modelling admits that this will take away more than $120 million in annual tax revenue and will reduce the state's economic activity by re-directing resources into unproductive activities.

"Public schools, hospitals and transport are to be sacrificed, and the economy weakened, in order to fatten up an industry that is beset by corruption and animal welfare scandals.

"If there were any benefits for the dogs or for the small breeders and owners, then there might be some sense in looking at this proposal.

"Instead, the Committee and the Baird-Stoner government rejected any move to genuine regulatory reform.

"Pouring yet more money into this industry will only deepen the already endemic abuse of power and create more opportunities for mistreatment of animals and see more dogs killed because they are not fast enough.

"The recommendation will push NSW into yet more tax cutting competition with other states in a race to the bottom that will undermine yet another source of public revenue.

"States should be cooperating on setting tax rates, not trying to get the better of each other in attracting racing activities.

"Granting tax-breaks to an industry that kills 3,000 dogs a year would be deeply offensive to the thousands of people who wrote to the committee voicing their distress at the ongoing animal welfare crisis.

"Earlier this week, the NSW Liberals and Nationals gave the greyhound racing industry the green light to continue their appalling animal welfare practices and the serious abuses of regulatory power.

"In the absence of any real reforms to break the inherent conflict of one body that has responsibility for both commercial development and regulation, tax breaks will only exacerbate this ongoing integrity and animal crisis.

"At a time when the Baird-Stoner government is crying poor, it would be an appalling outcome for tax payers to gift tax-breaks to an industry that inflicts untold damage on the community through problem gambling and animal abuse.

"The Committee's report, like this week's government response to the first report, is a testament to the political power that Greyhound Racing NSW commands in both large parties," Dr Kaye said.

For more information: John Kaye 0407 195 455