NSW Premier Mike Baird announces ban on greyhound industry to be axed

NSW Premier Mike Baird has apologised for attempting to close down the greyhound industry but said it would only be given “one last chance” to reform.

NSW Premier Mike Baird speaks to the media in Sydney after he performed an extraordinary backflip on his greyhound racing ban after yielding to sustained industry and media pressure, saying "he got it wrong". Picture: AAP Image/Dan Himbrechts.

IN A humiliating back down, NSW Premier Mike Baird has personally apologised for the proposed ban on the greyhound industry saying “I’m not trying to sugar coat it, I got it wrong”.

On Tuesday morning, Mr Baird said the greyhound ban would be put on hold to give the industry the opportunity to reform itself.

“We made a decision that was very decisive on back of systemic animal cruelty we saw in greyhound industry.

“It’s clear in hindsight we got it wrong, I got it wrong, the cabinet got it wrong, the Government got it wrong,” he said.

Announcing the initial ban in July, Mr Baird said widespread animal cruelty meant “we are left with no acceptable course of action except to close this industry down”.

However, with a by-election in a rock solid seat now looking distinctly shaky, the leadership of the Liberal’s coalition partners up in the air and even Mr Baird’s own staying power being questioned, the Premier looks to have been backed into a corner where a back down is the only option.

The greyhound ban has been a burning issue for Mike Baird. Picture: Jonathan Ng

Former Labor Premier Morris Iemma will chair a special panel to look into the industry.

Mr Baird said there had been a “crescendo of feedback” on the issue. “The feedback I have received from the community is, yes, they were horrified but they have also said why did you not to give industry one last chance?”

But the systemic animal cruelty could not continue. “We are not returning to the status quo the barbaric activities of the industry have to end.”

The Premier cut a chastened figure. “I am human,” he said. “I haven’t done something in a perfect way (and) you have to get into a position to acknowledge you haven’t done it well.”

On Sydney radio station 2GB on Tuesday morning, Federal Treasurer Scott Morrison said if the government did change policy that wasn’t a bad thing. “I think they (would) deserve credit.”

“We make decisions in politics and sometimes we will change those down the track,” he added.

“And that requires political courage.”

It emerged that on Monday evening, Mr Baird visited influential 2GB radio host Alan Jones.

Last month, the host laid into Mr Baird brandishing him “Kim Jong-Baird” for what he claimed were his dictatorial policies, including the greyhound industry ban.

On Tuesday, he struck a far more conciliatory note.

“I did make the point that if he didn’t (overturn the ban) he and the government would be dead in the water,” he said on his radio show.

“You can’t treat good people like this putting them out of business or onto suicide watch when their completely innocent. He understood this.”

Jones said the government should now be applauded.

Premier Mike Baird arrives to have dinner with Alan Jones on Monday.

“Having criticised the government for the ridiculous decision to impose the ban, surely now we can’t criticise the government for taking sensible step to over turn it?”

But not everyone is happy. Animal rights charity PETA has come out swinging.

PETA Australia’s campaign co-ordinator Claire Fryer said on Tuesday that over the past 12 years in NSW alone up to 68,000 dogs have been killed simply because they were not fast enough.

“Today is a sad day not only for the thousands of dogs who will now continue to suffer in this cruel and unjustifiable industry, but also for democracy.

“The Government has acted on speculation about their polling numbers and pressure from individuals who gain financially from this abusive industry, and ignored the vast majority of NSW constituents who abhor the inherit brutality of greyhound racing.,” she said.

Mr Baird’s protestations that the ban is the only right and moral course of action for a rotten industry has coincided with his popularity falling through the floor.

Last month, Newspoll research showed Mr Baird — once Australia’s most popular politician — had seen his approval rating fall from 61 per cent to only 39 per cent.

Going from hero to less than zero, his net satisfaction score had gone from plus 37 per cent in December to minus 7 per cent now.

Meanwhile, a by-election in the country NSW electorate of Orange is shaping up as a referendum on the plan with the Nationals in panic mode facing possible defeat in a safe seat.

Originally published as NSW Premier Mike Baird announces ban on greyhound industry to be axed