1 00:00:00,520 --> 00:00:05,640 Speaker 1: Already and this is the Daily This is the Daily OS. Oh, 2 00:00:05,800 --> 00:00:16,119 Speaker 1: now it makes sense. Good morning, and welcome to the 3 00:00:16,200 --> 00:00:19,200 Speaker 1: Daily OS. It's Friday, the fifteenth of August. I'm Billy 4 00:00:19,239 --> 00:00:20,240 Speaker 1: fitz Simon's. 5 00:00:19,840 --> 00:00:20,800 Speaker 2: I'm Sam Kazlowski. 6 00:00:21,160 --> 00:00:25,560 Speaker 1: Today we are talking about greyhound racing, specifically whether or 7 00:00:25,600 --> 00:00:28,040 Speaker 1: not there is a movement for it to be banned. 8 00:00:28,560 --> 00:00:31,680 Speaker 1: Earlier this week, the Tasmanian government announced it will ban 9 00:00:31,840 --> 00:00:35,720 Speaker 1: greyhound racing in the next five years. The state cited 10 00:00:35,840 --> 00:00:39,959 Speaker 1: concerns about animal welfare and declining viewership as key factors 11 00:00:40,000 --> 00:00:43,880 Speaker 1: in the decision, and just yesterday, new costing analysis suggested 12 00:00:43,880 --> 00:00:47,479 Speaker 1: that Victoria could actually save hundreds of millions of dollars 13 00:00:47,800 --> 00:00:49,560 Speaker 1: if they were also to follow suit. 14 00:00:49,960 --> 00:00:52,000 Speaker 2: But will that happen? Today? 15 00:00:52,120 --> 00:00:54,120 Speaker 1: We will tell you everything you need to know. 16 00:00:58,520 --> 00:01:01,320 Speaker 2: So, Billy, over the last couple of years, I feel 17 00:01:01,320 --> 00:01:04,120 Speaker 2: like greyhound racing regulation has come up relatively in a 18 00:01:04,200 --> 00:01:07,120 Speaker 2: state based context, or a state and territory based context. 19 00:01:07,160 --> 00:01:09,479 Speaker 2: Here give me a sense of the state of play 20 00:01:09,520 --> 00:01:10,399 Speaker 2: across the country. 21 00:01:10,680 --> 00:01:12,520 Speaker 1: Yeah, so, I have to admit I actually didn't know 22 00:01:12,560 --> 00:01:15,959 Speaker 1: too much about this before I did this research, and 23 00:01:16,040 --> 00:01:19,000 Speaker 1: I was quite surprised to learn that Australia is actually 24 00:01:19,040 --> 00:01:22,920 Speaker 1: only one of four countries in the world where commercial 25 00:01:22,959 --> 00:01:27,679 Speaker 1: greyhound racing still takes place. And the last time we 26 00:01:27,840 --> 00:01:31,280 Speaker 1: reported on this was basically this time last year, and 27 00:01:31,319 --> 00:01:35,400 Speaker 1: then it was seven countries that were still doing commercial 28 00:01:35,400 --> 00:01:38,960 Speaker 1: greyhound racing and since the past year it has gone 29 00:01:39,000 --> 00:01:43,039 Speaker 1: down to four. Now it is legal in basically all 30 00:01:43,040 --> 00:01:46,959 Speaker 1: of Australia except for the Act, and as I just 31 00:01:47,040 --> 00:01:50,600 Speaker 1: mentioned in the intro, it's about to also be banned 32 00:01:50,720 --> 00:01:51,960 Speaker 1: in Tasmania. 33 00:01:52,000 --> 00:01:55,000 Speaker 2: And in terms of the global greyhound racing landscape, where 34 00:01:55,040 --> 00:01:58,160 Speaker 2: does Australia sit in terms of the size of that industry, Well. 35 00:01:58,120 --> 00:02:02,360 Speaker 1: Australia actually has the largest to commercial greyhound industry in 36 00:02:02,440 --> 00:02:05,840 Speaker 1: the world, so that's according to analysis, and I would 37 00:02:05,880 --> 00:02:09,880 Speaker 1: say it's very popular in Australia amongst regional communities, that's 38 00:02:09,880 --> 00:02:13,519 Speaker 1: where it's most popular. I try to find a national number, 39 00:02:13,639 --> 00:02:15,960 Speaker 1: but I couldn't quite find it. In terms of how 40 00:02:16,040 --> 00:02:19,200 Speaker 1: much revenue it's generating or how much it's contributing to 41 00:02:19,240 --> 00:02:22,480 Speaker 1: the economy in Australia, I couldn't find a national number, 42 00:02:22,800 --> 00:02:25,239 Speaker 1: but I did find a number just for New South 43 00:02:25,240 --> 00:02:27,919 Speaker 1: Wales where it is very popular. And so in twenty 44 00:02:27,960 --> 00:02:32,160 Speaker 1: twenty three, greyhound racing contributed about six hundred and fifty 45 00:02:32,360 --> 00:02:35,600 Speaker 1: million dollars to the economy just in New South Wales 46 00:02:36,000 --> 00:02:36,920 Speaker 1: just in that one year. 47 00:02:37,200 --> 00:02:40,880 Speaker 2: And is that mainly from gambling revenue that's associated with. 48 00:02:40,880 --> 00:02:44,840 Speaker 1: It, gambling revenue, from the jobs that it creates for 49 00:02:44,960 --> 00:02:48,200 Speaker 1: the economy, from the prize money that it also has. 50 00:02:48,240 --> 00:02:50,000 Speaker 1: There are a whole different range of things in terms 51 00:02:50,040 --> 00:02:52,560 Speaker 1: of how it's contributing to the economy, but it is 52 00:02:52,639 --> 00:02:55,760 Speaker 1: a really big industry. I also think it's fair to 53 00:02:55,800 --> 00:03:00,040 Speaker 1: say that the industry is quite controversial in particular, but 54 00:03:00,160 --> 00:03:04,160 Speaker 1: there are concerns around animal welfare. That's also not unique 55 00:03:04,160 --> 00:03:07,000 Speaker 1: to greyhound racing. You know, we also have horse racing 56 00:03:07,400 --> 00:03:11,320 Speaker 1: where there are also animal welfare concerns and also with 57 00:03:11,480 --> 00:03:16,240 Speaker 1: both of those their association with the gambling industry, and 58 00:03:16,320 --> 00:03:21,519 Speaker 1: also questions over whether the racing bodies are adequately regulated. 59 00:03:22,160 --> 00:03:24,760 Speaker 1: But as of the past few weeks, there is a 60 00:03:24,800 --> 00:03:29,560 Speaker 1: lot more conversation about the greyhound industry in particular and 61 00:03:29,600 --> 00:03:31,559 Speaker 1: whether or not it should be banned. 62 00:03:31,800 --> 00:03:34,040 Speaker 2: And all of this is being brought into the news 63 00:03:34,120 --> 00:03:38,280 Speaker 2: cycle in the last couple of days with Tasmania's announcement 64 00:03:38,360 --> 00:03:41,360 Speaker 2: and that's interesting because we have talked about Tasmania and 65 00:03:41,440 --> 00:03:43,280 Speaker 2: its government in the last couple of weeks on this 66 00:03:43,320 --> 00:03:48,320 Speaker 2: podcast because of the uncertainty that was associated with their 67 00:03:48,360 --> 00:03:51,920 Speaker 2: recent election. So there's a new premier who's the old premier, 68 00:03:52,000 --> 00:03:53,880 Speaker 2: but he's back again for another term. And one of 69 00:03:53,920 --> 00:03:56,640 Speaker 2: the first things he announced was relating to greyhound racing. 70 00:03:56,840 --> 00:04:00,320 Speaker 1: Yeah, that is important context and it's so confusing to follow. 71 00:04:00,400 --> 00:04:04,400 Speaker 1: But yes, like you said, Sam, Tasmania does have the Premier, 72 00:04:04,480 --> 00:04:08,560 Speaker 1: Jeremy Rockcliffe, who has become premier again. Very confusing because 73 00:04:08,600 --> 00:04:11,720 Speaker 1: he doesn't actually have enough support to form government. 74 00:04:11,800 --> 00:04:13,080 Speaker 2: But such a funny situation. 75 00:04:13,280 --> 00:04:15,760 Speaker 1: Such a funny situation. But like you said, what's important 76 00:04:15,760 --> 00:04:18,599 Speaker 1: to know is that as of earlier this week, he 77 00:04:18,720 --> 00:04:22,560 Speaker 1: has announced that Tasmania will phase out greyhound racing by 78 00:04:22,760 --> 00:04:26,360 Speaker 1: twenty twenty nine. So in opposed to Facebook, Rockliffe said 79 00:04:26,360 --> 00:04:31,000 Speaker 1: that animal welfare and declining participation in the sport contributed 80 00:04:31,040 --> 00:04:34,320 Speaker 1: to the government's decision. I'll read out one quote from him. 81 00:04:34,360 --> 00:04:37,200 Speaker 1: He said, I know there are many participants in the 82 00:04:37,200 --> 00:04:40,560 Speaker 1: industry who care for their animals who will be extremely 83 00:04:40,560 --> 00:04:42,440 Speaker 1: disappointed by this decision. 84 00:04:43,000 --> 00:04:46,599 Speaker 2: So he kind of assumes office. He is the premier 85 00:04:47,120 --> 00:04:49,880 Speaker 2: of an uncertain government and one of his first things 86 00:04:50,040 --> 00:04:53,400 Speaker 2: he does is announces on Facebook this ban. I noticed 87 00:04:53,520 --> 00:04:57,120 Speaker 2: you said twenty twenty nine. Why is that so long away? 88 00:04:57,600 --> 00:05:00,880 Speaker 1: Yeah, that was my first question as well. And it's 89 00:05:00,920 --> 00:05:05,240 Speaker 1: actually because of a pre existing contract. So TAZ Racing 90 00:05:05,720 --> 00:05:09,520 Speaker 1: is the body that manages the racing industry in Tasmania 91 00:05:09,839 --> 00:05:13,440 Speaker 1: and that includes horse racing as well and greyhound racing, 92 00:05:13,920 --> 00:05:18,240 Speaker 1: and they have a funding arrangement with the government which 93 00:05:18,400 --> 00:05:20,720 Speaker 1: was signed back in two thousand and nine and it 94 00:05:20,839 --> 00:05:24,680 Speaker 1: was a twenty year deal, so it doesn't expire until 95 00:05:24,880 --> 00:05:27,800 Speaker 1: twenty twenty nine. And I believe they say in the 96 00:05:28,000 --> 00:05:30,320 Speaker 1: business world that a deal is a deal. Deal is 97 00:05:30,360 --> 00:05:32,400 Speaker 1: a deal, A deal is a deal, and that's exactly 98 00:05:32,400 --> 00:05:35,200 Speaker 1: why we have to wait five years for this to happen. 99 00:05:36,000 --> 00:05:41,880 Speaker 1: According to a report conducted by welfare advocacy organizations, Greyhound 100 00:05:42,000 --> 00:05:45,640 Speaker 1: Racing received about seventy five million dollars from TAZ Racing 101 00:05:45,720 --> 00:05:49,320 Speaker 1: or from the government over the past fifteen years since 102 00:05:49,360 --> 00:05:51,279 Speaker 1: this agreement has been in place. 103 00:05:51,400 --> 00:05:55,599 Speaker 2: So, just to get it clear, the government in Tasmania 104 00:05:55,680 --> 00:05:59,479 Speaker 2: is essentially kind of subsidizing the industry. Yes, and I 105 00:05:59,520 --> 00:06:02,239 Speaker 2: assume the industry would be arguing back in two thousand 106 00:06:02,240 --> 00:06:04,359 Speaker 2: and nine at least that they need the funding to 107 00:06:04,440 --> 00:06:07,159 Speaker 2: prop up local jobs and to kind of grow a 108 00:06:07,160 --> 00:06:10,400 Speaker 2: part of the economy there. So what has the reaction 109 00:06:10,560 --> 00:06:11,839 Speaker 2: been from that industry. 110 00:06:12,200 --> 00:06:16,720 Speaker 1: Yeah, from a lot of stakeholders within the greyhound racing industry, 111 00:06:16,760 --> 00:06:19,880 Speaker 1: they have expressed their disappointment at this announcement. Like I 112 00:06:19,920 --> 00:06:23,280 Speaker 1: said before, this industry creates a lot of jobs, it 113 00:06:23,320 --> 00:06:26,040 Speaker 1: contributes to the economy, and so for a lot of 114 00:06:26,040 --> 00:06:29,440 Speaker 1: people whose lives are really all about greyhound racing, you 115 00:06:29,440 --> 00:06:32,720 Speaker 1: can imagine that this is a disappointing announcement for them. 116 00:06:33,480 --> 00:06:37,119 Speaker 1: From TAS Racing themselves, they didn't actually say that much 117 00:06:37,480 --> 00:06:41,520 Speaker 1: in their response. They basically just said that they note 118 00:06:41,680 --> 00:06:45,960 Speaker 1: the announcement and that they will engage with relevant stakeholders 119 00:06:46,000 --> 00:06:49,240 Speaker 1: to make sure that there is an appropriate phasing out 120 00:06:49,279 --> 00:06:49,479 Speaker 1: of this. 121 00:06:50,240 --> 00:06:52,720 Speaker 2: And as you said in reading out the comments from 122 00:06:52,760 --> 00:06:55,800 Speaker 2: their premiere with the announcement, the core argument here is 123 00:06:55,839 --> 00:06:59,200 Speaker 2: about animal welfare, and so I'm keen to understand then 124 00:06:59,360 --> 00:07:01,440 Speaker 2: what the reaction there's been from the other side of 125 00:07:01,480 --> 00:07:05,080 Speaker 2: this debate to industry, which is animal welfare organizations. 126 00:07:05,240 --> 00:07:07,360 Speaker 1: Well, as you can imagine. I mean, many of these 127 00:07:07,440 --> 00:07:10,800 Speaker 1: organizations have been advocating for this band to take place 128 00:07:10,840 --> 00:07:15,120 Speaker 1: for years and years, and so from somewhere like RSPCA Tasmania, 129 00:07:15,480 --> 00:07:18,720 Speaker 1: they really celebrated this news and said that this is 130 00:07:18,880 --> 00:07:21,720 Speaker 1: because of all of the advocacy that has taken place 131 00:07:21,880 --> 00:07:24,960 Speaker 1: over the past many many years. Sure, and they used 132 00:07:25,200 --> 00:07:28,360 Speaker 1: this announcement to urge other governments. This is a quote 133 00:07:28,360 --> 00:07:31,520 Speaker 1: from them, to treat this moment as a turning point 134 00:07:31,880 --> 00:07:35,080 Speaker 1: and to speak in favor of ending greyhound racing once 135 00:07:35,160 --> 00:07:35,760 Speaker 1: and for all. 136 00:07:36,000 --> 00:07:38,640 Speaker 2: And I think the big unseid thing in this discussion, Billy, 137 00:07:38,680 --> 00:07:41,000 Speaker 2: is the fact that, you know, we've got the ACT 138 00:07:41,240 --> 00:07:45,240 Speaker 2: and Tasmania, they're relatively small economies in the scope of 139 00:07:45,360 --> 00:07:47,640 Speaker 2: comparing it to other states in Australia, like that New 140 00:07:47,680 --> 00:07:50,360 Speaker 2: South Wales number you mentioned at the top. Is there 141 00:07:50,360 --> 00:07:54,000 Speaker 2: any indication from the other states, particularly those larger economies, 142 00:07:54,400 --> 00:07:55,800 Speaker 2: that they'll follow suit here. 143 00:07:56,360 --> 00:07:59,840 Speaker 1: Yeah, well, just yesterday there were reports out of Victoria 144 00:08:00,160 --> 00:08:04,560 Speaker 1: that the government could actually save money if it phases 145 00:08:04,600 --> 00:08:05,920 Speaker 1: out greyhound racing. 146 00:08:06,040 --> 00:08:07,440 Speaker 2: So talk me through that argument then. 147 00:08:07,720 --> 00:08:11,560 Speaker 1: Yeah. So the Parliamentary Budget Office, which is just a 148 00:08:11,880 --> 00:08:15,000 Speaker 1: government agency that you know, any politician can go to 149 00:08:15,120 --> 00:08:18,240 Speaker 1: and say if this policy was introduced to how would 150 00:08:18,240 --> 00:08:21,480 Speaker 1: that impact the economy? The modeling yes, and so it 151 00:08:21,520 --> 00:08:25,520 Speaker 1: was Independent MP Georgie Purcell who asked the Parliamentary Budget 152 00:08:25,560 --> 00:08:28,840 Speaker 1: Office to do the costings on if the Victorian government 153 00:08:29,120 --> 00:08:32,480 Speaker 1: was to ban greyhound racing, and it found that it 154 00:08:32,520 --> 00:08:36,480 Speaker 1: would save about four hundred and fifty million dollars over 155 00:08:36,600 --> 00:08:37,840 Speaker 1: a ten year period. 156 00:08:38,040 --> 00:08:40,199 Speaker 2: So that's a strong economic argument. But walk me through 157 00:08:40,240 --> 00:08:42,680 Speaker 2: the numbers there, like, how does that actually work out? 158 00:08:42,880 --> 00:08:44,840 Speaker 1: Okay, it's going to get a little bit massive, but 159 00:08:44,920 --> 00:08:47,400 Speaker 1: stay with me. So it's because it would mean that 160 00:08:47,440 --> 00:08:51,240 Speaker 1: the government would stop its partial funding of the industry. 161 00:08:51,559 --> 00:08:54,080 Speaker 1: So remember how I said, just like in Tasmania, the 162 00:08:54,120 --> 00:08:58,400 Speaker 1: government there partly subsidizes the industry, it's the exact same 163 00:08:58,520 --> 00:09:04,520 Speaker 1: in Victoria. And so it's estimated that if greyhound racing 164 00:09:04,640 --> 00:09:07,920 Speaker 1: was to be banned in Victoria that the government would 165 00:09:08,000 --> 00:09:12,040 Speaker 1: decrease their expenses over a ten year period buy about 166 00:09:12,080 --> 00:09:15,600 Speaker 1: seven hundred million dollars. However, on the flip side of that, 167 00:09:16,520 --> 00:09:19,599 Speaker 1: they would also lose revenue of about two hundred and 168 00:09:19,640 --> 00:09:23,280 Speaker 1: fifty million dollars, and that is revenue that they earn 169 00:09:23,400 --> 00:09:25,560 Speaker 1: from people betting on the industry. 170 00:09:25,760 --> 00:09:28,600 Speaker 2: Right, So the framework that sits behind that comment is 171 00:09:28,640 --> 00:09:31,720 Speaker 2: this idea that gambling companies in Australia they would pay 172 00:09:31,800 --> 00:09:35,160 Speaker 2: taxes to the government. Yes, they would pay levees and 173 00:09:35,200 --> 00:09:38,600 Speaker 2: different fees that they're applied to the industry. That bucket 174 00:09:38,640 --> 00:09:41,560 Speaker 2: of money would decrease if greyhound racing was taken out 175 00:09:41,640 --> 00:09:42,840 Speaker 2: of play exactly. 176 00:09:42,920 --> 00:09:46,959 Speaker 1: So ultimately the government would lose about two hundred and 177 00:09:46,960 --> 00:09:51,040 Speaker 1: fifty million dollars in lost revenue, but they would actually 178 00:09:51,040 --> 00:09:54,600 Speaker 1: also save about seven hundred million dollars and so the 179 00:09:54,640 --> 00:09:57,520 Speaker 1: net gain would be four hundred and fifty million dollars. 180 00:09:57,720 --> 00:10:02,480 Speaker 2: That was very mathematically sound explanations. Okay, so this costing 181 00:10:02,480 --> 00:10:05,200 Speaker 2: has been done by an independent MP in Victoria. Has 182 00:10:05,240 --> 00:10:07,880 Speaker 2: the Victorian government responded though to this model. 183 00:10:08,080 --> 00:10:10,840 Speaker 1: No, so this only happened yesterday, but at the time 184 00:10:10,880 --> 00:10:14,400 Speaker 1: of recording, the Victorian government has not responded to that 185 00:10:14,480 --> 00:10:19,360 Speaker 1: costing analysis. But they certainly have showed no indication that 186 00:10:19,720 --> 00:10:24,160 Speaker 1: they are wanting to ban greyhound racing. The other states 187 00:10:24,240 --> 00:10:27,760 Speaker 1: where greyhound racing is really popular is Queensland and New 188 00:10:27,800 --> 00:10:30,120 Speaker 1: South Wales. It's really a thing for the eastern states 189 00:10:30,120 --> 00:10:32,920 Speaker 1: of Australia, where it's most popular, and again neither of 190 00:10:32,920 --> 00:10:37,480 Speaker 1: those state governments have indicated any desire to ban greyhound racing. 191 00:10:37,920 --> 00:10:41,440 Speaker 1: The one last jurisdiction I wanted to mention before we 192 00:10:41,559 --> 00:10:46,319 Speaker 1: leave at SAM was New Zealand. They actually have banned 193 00:10:46,559 --> 00:10:49,440 Speaker 1: greyhound racing and it was only very recently. It was 194 00:10:49,440 --> 00:10:52,480 Speaker 1: in December of last year. So I think it does 195 00:10:52,559 --> 00:10:56,280 Speaker 1: show that there is slowly kind of this movement to 196 00:10:56,480 --> 00:10:56,880 Speaker 1: ban it. 197 00:10:57,480 --> 00:11:00,120 Speaker 2: Billy. I feel like this is one of these stories 198 00:11:00,280 --> 00:11:03,720 Speaker 2: that has a pretty regular cadence in the news cycle, 199 00:11:03,800 --> 00:11:06,680 Speaker 2: at least since we've started reporting the news every day 200 00:11:06,720 --> 00:11:10,120 Speaker 2: here at TVA, where there seems to be these key moments. 201 00:11:10,240 --> 00:11:13,199 Speaker 2: And I remember one key moment was a groundbreaking four 202 00:11:13,280 --> 00:11:16,520 Speaker 2: Corners episode produced by the ABC. I remember us talking 203 00:11:16,559 --> 00:11:19,880 Speaker 2: about the Act ban. Now we're here talking about Tasmania. 204 00:11:19,920 --> 00:11:22,760 Speaker 2: It definitely feels like the gaps between those developments are 205 00:11:22,760 --> 00:11:25,160 Speaker 2: getting a bit shorter. Yeah, and it'll be really interesting 206 00:11:25,200 --> 00:11:28,160 Speaker 2: to see if there is more movement and more rapid 207 00:11:28,200 --> 00:11:29,160 Speaker 2: movement in this area. 208 00:11:29,400 --> 00:11:30,440 Speaker 1: Yeah, so interesting. 209 00:11:30,520 --> 00:11:32,960 Speaker 2: Thanks so much for explaining that to us, and thank 210 00:11:33,000 --> 00:11:35,040 Speaker 2: you for joining us on the Daily ODS this morning. 211 00:11:35,000 --> 00:11:37,080 Speaker 2: I hope you've enjoyed this week of content. It's been 212 00:11:37,120 --> 00:11:39,440 Speaker 2: a super busy week of news. We're going to be 213 00:11:39,440 --> 00:11:43,000 Speaker 2: back in your ears for the Friday afternoon headlines. Until then, 214 00:11:43,080 --> 00:11:45,559 Speaker 2: have a wonderful start to your Friday. We'll chat to 215 00:11:45,559 --> 00:11:51,720 Speaker 2: you later. My name is Lily Maddon and I'm a 216 00:11:51,720 --> 00:11:56,480 Speaker 2: proud Arunda Bunjelung Kalkuttin woman from Gadigo Country. The Daily 217 00:11:56,520 --> 00:11:59,560 Speaker 2: oz acknowledges that this podcast is recorded on the lands 218 00:11:59,559 --> 00:12:03,000 Speaker 2: of the gag and pays respect to all Aboriginal and 219 00:12:03,040 --> 00:12:06,240 Speaker 2: Torrestrate island and nations. We pay our respects to the 220 00:12:06,240 --> 00:12:09,000 Speaker 2: first peoples of these countries, both past and present.