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Barnaby Joyce links NSW greyhound racing ban to Labor's live animal exports controversy
By Tom McIlroy
Deputy Prime Minister Barnaby Joyce has likened the shutdown of the NSW greyhound racing industry to the Gillard government's 2011 live cattle exports ban, warning it would impact only the "bottom end of town".
Defiant greyhound racing clubs are joining forces to fight the ban the ban imposed by NSW Premier Mike Baird, with former Commonwealth solicitor-general David Bennett QC engaged to lead a challenge against the decision.
Speaking on 2GB radio on Wednesday, Mr Joyce said he was "very sceptical" and tries to "stay away from banning anything".
"If you ban things, I think you've got to be careful. You start hurting people you didn't expect to hurt," he said.
Agriculture Minister Barnaby Joyce.Credit: Alex Ellinghausen
"It's best to try and work with industry and get them to sort out their problems and that's going to cause me grief saying that because people will say 'well, you're talking against your colleagues".
But Mr Joyce said he had not read a report used to justify the ban. The NSW government-commissioned report report found up to 68,000 greyhounds considered to be "uncompetitive" had been slaughtered in the past 12 years while nearly one in five trainers used live animal baits.
Mr Joyce said a "way around" the ban should be explored.
"I haven't read the report and to be quite frank, I don't intend to read the report but what I do is know a lot of people who breed greyhounds and they seem like decent people."
Final sprint: The NSW government plans to end greyhound racing in 2017.Credit: Getty Images
A number of NSW Nationals MPs are opposed to the decision, concerned about the impact on regional jobs.
On Tuesday, Mr Joyce Earlier, told 7 News that "on the back of the live cattle ban, I am always a little bit cautious about banning anything".
He was widely criticised during the federal election campaign for linking the 2011 decision to suspend live cattle exports to Indonesia to an increase in asylum seeker boats arriving in Australia.
Mr Joyce is now the most senior political figure in Australia to speak out against Mr Baird's decision.
It's not the top end of town at the greyhound track, it's the bottom and you've got to be a little bit careful in jumping into a section of their lives
"You've always got to try and regulate it, monitor it and make sure people are doing the right thing... jump on them from a great height if they're not," Mr Joyce told 2GB.
"There's a lot of people who just can't afford to be in the racehorse industry, it's very expensive, but they can afford to own a dish licker and that gives them an opportunity to be at the track.
"It's not the top end of town at the greyhound track, it's the bottom and you've got to be a little bit careful in jumping into a section of their lives."