NEW Racing Minister Paul Toole says the NSW Government’s short-lived greyhound racing ban is “dead and buried” and he wants to provide certainty for the industry.
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Mr Toole, who is also the Member for Bathurst, is settling into his new portfolios of racing, lands and forestry after a tumultuous time in state politics.
The former Local Government Minister was tipped at one stage to be pushed out of the NSW Cabinet after the resignation of Premier Mike Baird and the ascension of Gladys Berejiklian.
But he survived, and will now have responsibility for mending bridges with the state’s greyhound industry after the racing ban passed NSW Parliament last year before Mr Baird backflipped on the decision.
“The ban is dead and buried,” Mr Toole said.
“I’ll be working with stakeholders to bring new legislation to ensure that the industry continues to operate.”
Mr Toole said he was waiting for a report from the industry reform panel headed by former NSW Premier Morris Iemma.
“The panel reports in the next couple of weeks,” he said. “We’re bringing that legislation on as soon as we can so there is certainty for the greyhound industry.
“When you look at the racing industry as a whole, employees, participants and volunteers, it’s worth $3.3 billion to the economy.”
Mr Toole said he was looking forward to working with those in the greyhound racing industry.
“I acknowledge many in the greyhound industry see it as more than just an income, more than a job, more than a hobby. The greyhounds they care for have become part of their family,” he said.
Though Mr Toole will have his work cut out for him in repairing fractured relationships in the industry, some of the early responses have been promising for him.
Bathurst Greyhound Racing Club’s Jason Lyne this week said Mr Toole had “always been very accessible”.
“There are a lot of bridges to mend, but I think he is the right person for the job,” he said.
Lithgow Greyhound Club president John Brain, meanwhile, said the club’s relationship with Mr Toole had been positive in the past.
“We had a meeting with Mr Toole mid-last year. We met with him after we lost five race meetings, and after that we got those race meetings back,” he said.
Mr Brain said Mr Toole sent off a letter to keep the meetings in Lithgow.
