Premier tipped to backflip on greyhounds

New South Wales Premier Mike Baird is expected to back down on his controversial greyhound racing ban in favour of increasing penalties for wrongdoers in the industry.

NSW Premier Mike Baird. Photo: Twitter
NSW Premier Mike Baird. Photo: Twitter

Despite the internal lobbying and a fall in popularity, Baird has stood firm until now on the issue saying the industry's shutdown date of July 2017 is locked in.

Media reports suggest that Baird, who returns from holiday on Monday, is expected to announce an extension to greyhound racing in NSW for a trial period, while introducing tough industry standards, including harsher penalties for animal cruelty including jail sentences.

The premier and his deputy Troy Grant have faced intense pressure since announcing the ban three months ago.

Speculation has been swirling around Grant's hold as leader of the NSW Nationals party as the internal revolt against the greyhound racing ban heats up.

It's being reported several senior Nationals MPs are making moves to unseat Grant if he does not dump the controversial policy.

The Australian says Mr Baird's possible backdown comes as the NSW Nationals prepare for a partyroom meeting on Monday night.

Labor leader Luke Foley is sceptical about the turnaround.

"Perhaps the principle of saving his own skin and those of his National Party allies in the Orange by-election might be the most important principle for him," he told ABC Radio on Monday.

Meanwhile NSW Greens MP Mehreen Faruqi has urged the premier to stand firm.

"He will lose all credibility, for true strong leaders you have to make decisions that are right - this was the right one to make," she told ABC radio.

The Daily Telegraph says Baird will make the announcement as early as Tuesday to bring in legislation to overturn the Greyhound Racing Prohibition Act.

The greyhound industry will be expected to guarantee:

• A total life cycle management for all dogs born into the industry, whether they can race or not;
• A controlled breeding program;
• Zero tolerance to animal cruelty, including live baiting;
• And strict standards on racing to prevent injury to dogs.

The compromise is based on a plan by the Greyhound Alliance, The Telegraph says.

A report by Greyhounds Transition Taskforce head John Keniry was expected to be handed to the government on Monday and presented to a cabinet meeting.

But it is now expected that the Cabinet will approve the new plan.

A recent Newspoll showed Baird's approval rate had crashed from 61 %to 39% since December due to the ban.

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