ACT Government to ban greyhound racing

The ACT Government has announced that greyhound racing will be banned in Canberra at the end of next financial year.

Despite an independent report finding no evidence of live baiting in the ACT, the ACT Government last week made the final decision to make greyhound racing illegal.

The ban was announced after an independent report highlighted concerns over animal welfare, but found no evidence of live baiting.

The report, by former Health Services Commissioner Mary Durkin, found out of more than 27,000 animals that raced in Canberra, 26 dogs had been euthanased due to injury at the racetrack in the five years from 2012 to 2016.

Another 302 dogs received minor to major injuries.

The ACT Government's decision came after an inquiry into the NSW industry, sparked by an ABC Four Corners investigation, confirmed the "barbaric" use of live baiting and the unnecessary death of tens of thousands of healthy dogs.

ACT Attorney-General Gordon Ramsay said it was impossible to divorce the ACT and NSW industries, with the large majority dogs raced in Canberra from the neighbouring state.

Attorney-General Ramsay stated "we can't turn a blind eye to the demonstrated cruelty and the behaviour that has been occurring and documented in NSW.

"The risk is not worth taking."

The Government pledged to end taxpayer funding to the industry at last year's election, despite the NSW Government overturning a ban on the sport.

NSW decided to instead invest $41 million to implement a range of reforms to improve animal welfare. 

Image used for illustrative purposes only.

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