Speaking in his ‘On Aird’ Spotify podcast, Michael Aird says it would have been sensible policy for Labor to back in a greyhound compensation deal.
“The Libs say we’re going to phase out greyhound racing by 2029.
Labor’s response should have been yeah this is obviously going to go through the lower house. Let’s do it the Labor way. How do we protect (participants) in terms of the transition and now the Libs have agreed to that.
They’re actually going to support the transition away from greyhound racing. That’s a good policy. That’s sensible. And that should have been Labor’s response to it.
Yes we understand that this can’t continue.
In my last term as Minister for Racing, I went to Tas Racing board and I said there are two issues you need to deal with…. one is that greyhound racing needs to be phased out… the other is we need to get rid of whips on horses.”
Michael Aird
Former Labor Treasurer and Racing Minister