The fallout from the live baiting scandal continues to rock the multi-million dollar greyhound industry with major players pushed out of the game.
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Londonderry trainer Majella Ferguson, a frequent visitor to Maitland Greyhound Club, was one of three participants stood down on Wednesday before the entire Greyhound Racing NSW board were swept aside by the state government later that day.
The industry’s awards ceremony were to be held in Sydney this Friday night, but they have been postponed following the ABC’s Four Corners program this week which aired footage of live rabbits, possums and piglets being used to blood greyhounds at training.
Ferguson and David Sundstrom stood down after being connected to the illegal practice at Zeke Kadir’s Londonderry property.
Fellow trainer Bruce Carr was also stood down after four live rabbits were found during an inspection of his property by GRNSW and the RSPCA NSW last week.
NSW Deputy Premier Troy Grant said his decision to stand down the board of GRNSW was prompted by the horrifying, shocking and surprising allegations.
Grant, who is also Racing Minister, announced on Thursday morning that the GRNSW board had agreed to formally disband.
The board was chaired by corporate lawyer Eve McGregor and included
David Clarkson, George Bawtree, Megan Lavender and Peter Davis, a Fairfax Media employee.
Their powers will be referred to interim chief executive Paul Newson, head of the NSW Office of Liquor, Gaming and Racing, who replaces former boss Brent Hogan.
Newson will continue the day-to-day to running of GRNSW until a review of the authority is finalised by retired High Court Justice Michael McHugh.
“It’s abhorrent, totally unacceptable, it’s criminal,” Grant told ABC Radio.
“The community had lost confidence in the greyhound industry in NSW after the atrocious revelations on Monday night ... There’s been a blight and innuendo across the industry.”
At least seven NSW greyhound trainers have been stood down following the report.
Grant says RSPCA NSW chief executive Steve Coleman, a NSW Police representative, and chairman of the Greyhound Racing Industry Consultation Group Ron Arnold, will join Justice McHugh’s review into the greyhound industry.
“The review will develop a new model of governance to ensure the integrity of the industry and the abhorrent practice of live baiting is stamped out for good,” Grant said.
However, Grant defended his department.
Grant said the policing and operations of greyhound racing was the responsibility of GRNSW, while the government looked after the legislative and regulatory side of the industry.
He said he hoped the new review team would improve the greyhound industry.
“It’s their job to inform the government on every and any way that this industry can recover and how it can be structured.
“This is a chance to have clear air in the current administration,” he told ABC Radio.
