Greyhound clubs have turned to a PR agency that tries to repair “shredded images” as they struggle to counter the true facts on greyhound racing exposed by animal welfare advocates.
On 28 July greyhound clubs in Tasmania issued a press release they said aimed to counter “sensationalism” from an “activist minority”. It echoed the misinformation created by Greyhound Clubs Australia.
The press release was from CRC PR, a PR agency whose specialty areas are “reputation and issues management and crisis communications.”
A media commentator has described the PR person behind the press release as “one of Brisbane’s more controversial spin doctors….a Mr Fix-It for clients going through some kind of image-shredding drama”.
The release repeated many of the deceptions that the racing industry uses to mask the true facts that are obvious to animal welfare advocates.
It’s more money that the industry diverts from greyhound welfare and pours into marketing and PR spin.
Here’s one of the true facts the racing industry hates to see: seven greyhounds injured in Tasmanian racing were later euthanased, taking the state’s death toll to 11 in the first half of 2022.
The PR agency has an interesting history. The release was issued by Lyall Mercer and Barbara Gorogh. They previously worked for Mercer PR, which has the following record in the public domain:
– Courier Mail article 3 November 2020: “End of an Era”: It’s the end of an era for one of Brisbane’s more controversial spin doctors…into liquidation…Mercer held himself out as a specialist in “reputation management”, a Mr Fix-It for clients going through some kind of image-shredding drama….Mercer also shopped around an interview with a Frenchman who admitted to posing as a fake prince on Hamilton Island and scamming the locals out of $42,000 back in 2009.
– Australian Financial Review article 11 July 2019: “Federal Treasury slams PR firm for human rights breach”
– The Guardian article 20 October 2015: “PR firm criticised for release of name and graphic details after alleged rape on Nauru – Police, politicians and academics condemn Australian public relations firm Mercer PR publishing police report on assault of female Somali refugee”
– Courier Mail article July 25, 2012: “Dial $50,000 for murder tale”: Channel 9 last night paid thousands of dollars for an interview with the wife of Max Sica. He is locked away for 35 years for murdering the three Singh children in their Bridgeman Downs home in 2003….Brisbane public relations agent Lyall Mercer, who claims to also act on behalf of churches and the LNP, says he was paid for arranging the interview.
The greyhound racing industry has finally got the PR agency they deserve.
Image shows Dr Dean, standing distressed with an injured leg on a Tasmanian track