LLB104 - assignment PDF

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SLIDE 2: In recent years, there have been staggering amounts of debates and campaigns in regards to animal welfare, more specifically, Greyhound racing. This particular issue has been raised due to the poor treatment before, during and after the races. However, the underlying factor is that justice is not prevalent throughout the whole process of Greyhound racing.

SLIDE 3: Before we can make any inferences as to the racing industry’s achievement of justice, we should first identify what justice actually entails… Justice is defined to be the administration of fairness and equality of all persons, the exercise of moral righteousness. Although this is what we all believe justice to mean, it’s apparent reflection within industries around the world displays either a misunderstanding of it, or a disregard for it. This lack of regard for justice can be clearly seen within current greyhound racing policies. The current laws and procedures in relation to Greyhound racing, specifically regarding their welfare, are inadequate in protecting the Greyhounds, and thus in achieving justice.

SLIDE 4: There are two primary pieces of legislation which govern the actions within the racing industry; the Racing Act of 2002 (Qld) and the Racing Integrity Act 2016 (Qld). Although these statutes do govern the industry as a whole, within their statutes, much of the power over the racing industry is delegated to the “board of racing”- as is stipulated in section 7 of the Racing Act 2002. As a result, much of the laws governing the industry are self-governed and monitored, meaning that much of the industry is governed through the implementation of policy made by Racing Queensland. Although trainers and owners’ welfare obligations to the greyhounds are stipulated in the Animal Care and Protection Act 2001 (Qld), another over-arching piece of legislation for the industry, those obligations are reflected within internal policy that is formed, as is the obligations under both acts before-mentioned.

SLIDE 5: Throughout the training period, greyhounds are subject to many compromises of welfare both in terms of general cruelty offences as well as the development of serious injuries. These concerns have given rise to the ongoing concern that the current laws are not adequate in achieving justice for greyhounds.

SLIDE 6: A concerning fact was found by the RSPCA, finding that, to date, more than twenty people have been charged with acts of animal cruelty, and a further twenty have been barred from the industry after receiving life bans. Along with this, many others have been suspended until further investigations are undertaken. Such general animal cruelty is not condoned by the industry, with policy set out in the “Greyhound Training and racing policy” stipulating that trainers and owners who are found to conduct this behaviour be disqualified and their registration cancelled. Upon such findings, there is a real question as to whether such policies are really serving its purpose in ensuring that justice is being upheld. If such damning evidence continues to emerge of instances alike 23 greyhound trainers being charged with a combined 65 animal cruelty offences, can anyone really safely say that the laws are achieving justice for the greyhounds?...