Setting record straight on greyhounds decision
ON behalf of Lifeline Australia I would like to set the record straight on the recent comments made by Alex Ferguson, the executive director of Lifeline Central West, regarding the decision to end greyhound racing in NSW (“Dogged By Fears”, Weekend Advocate, Saturday, August 13).
Subscribe now for unlimited access.
$0/
(min cost $0)
or signup to continue reading
Lifeline Australia is a confederation based organisation with independent Centres.
Mr Ferguson’s comments that the NSW Government’s decision to ban the greyhound racing industry was based “on very doubtful grounds and a report that is being questioned” do not reflect Lifeline Australia's position or any position developed in consultation between our Centres.
To be clear, while there may be social impacts from the greyhound racing ban, there is no evidence to suggest there is a direct link to suicidality.
Suicide is a highly complex behaviour and it is never accurate to attribute it to one cause. Moreover, doing so can unnecessarily distress vulnerable people.
Lifeline does not claim a position on whether a government policy is the right or wrong decision – our job is simply to support those in crisis.
We have approximately 3500 community volunteers on the phones across Australia, including in the Central West, who are available to all those in crisis.
In the case of the NSW Government’s intention to ban greyhound racing, Lifeline Australia is currently working with the Baird Government on how best to assist those who may be in crisis, including ensuring that those involved in the greyhound industry know that we are there for them, and will unconditionally listen and support them, as we do all our callers.
Pete Shmigel, Lifeline Australia CEO
And what about the domestic pet cruelty?
I HAVE read with interest the “facts” presented in regard to greyhound racing.
I would like to understand the “facts” on cruelty to domestically owned pets.
In my experience, the evidence I’ve seen from greyhound owners is that they feed their dogs better than themselves and provide a quality of medical care higher than they provide of themselves.
As a domestic pet owner and a previous greyhound owner and having been involved with council committees with our local dog pound, the facts I have gleaned are that there is significant cruelty to domestically owned animals.
I have not had the same experience with greyhound owners.
Do we now have to wonder if domestic pet ownership is under threat?
Grahame Danaher, Lithgow
Lacking direction for finding Westpoint centre
HAVING had a doctor’s appointment at Westpoint recently, and having had difficulty finding the place, I would like to comment on the lack of signage to Westpoint – something that I thought Lachlan Sullivan would have been aware of and would have had corrected before now.
Having made some comment on the matter, I have been informed that as Westpoint is a privately owned shopping centre, the responsibility for financing signage is with the owners of Westpoint and not with Bathurst Council.
I would suggest signage where Lambert Street leaves the Great Western Highway opposite the Dudley Hotel and again where Lambert Street ends and Suttor Street begins on Mitre Street and again at the Bathurst fire station.
This seems to me to be the most direct way and I would also suggest distances be placed on signs as it is quite a distance to Westpoint.
I think that the same lack of signage applies where the road to Trinity Heights leaves the Great Western Highway to the east of Bathurst.
