On the eve of the Agricultural Minister’s Forum (AgMin) on Friday, where the horse racing industry will be discussed, the Greens have said that the Federal Government has no other choice but to establish a Royal Commission into animal cruelty and ‘wastage’ in the horse racing industry and to get the States on board.
Greens Senator and Animal Welfare Spokesperson, Dr Mehreen Faruqi, has said that the industry cannot be trusted to clean itself up and their lack of action since the expose on the slaughter of race horses has shown that only a Royal Commission can resolve the issue.
Senator Faruqi said:
“There is a fundamental rot in the horse racing industry that needs to be exposed. Only a Royal Commission with the power to compel witnesses and open up the books will get to the bottom of the racing industry’s cruelty.
“It is becoming increasingly clear that the industry has known where these horses end up, but have failed to take action. They simply can’t be trusted.
“Industrial slaughter of race horses is the business model of the racing industry. Too many horses are bred for them to be realistically rehomed, so the racing industry relies on cruel slaughterhouses to dispose of what they call ‘wastage’.
“The community is red hot with anger and have no faith in the racing industry to protect horses. It has been a week of buck passing and crocodile tears from the industry and they should hang their head in shame.
“They are clearly not serious about reform. Accountability will only come when a Royal Commission drags them kicking and screaming to the table.
“If the racing industry is serious about protecting the lives of the thousands of horses they breed, then they should support our call for a Royal Commission.
“Piecemeal state by state actions and inquiries won’t end the cruelty – it is part of the reason why we are in this mess in the first place. We know state and federal governments are too captured by the racing and gambling industries to undertake a genuine review of animal cruelty in the horse racing and gambling industry. That’s why we need a Royal Commission,” she concluded.
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