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Parliamentary Questions


Question On Notice No. 749 asked in the Legislative Council on 12 May 2022 by Hon Dr Brad Pettitt

Question Directed to the: Minister for Emergency Services representing the Minister for Racing and Gaming
Parliament: 41 Session: 1


Question

I refer to the injuries suffered by the greyhound Sandgroper whilst competing in race 3 at Cannington racetrack on Wednesday, 4 May 2022, which sadly resulted in Sandgropers death, and I ask:
(a) why is the footage of that race not available;
(b) if the footage is considered to be too graphic for publication;
(c) why do race meets continue to be marketed as ‘family fun’ events; and
(d) why are children able to attend?

Answered on 14 June 2022

Racing and Wagering Western Australia (RWWA) advises:

(a) RWWA’s policy on race footage of a critical incident is based on recommendations from the Australian Communications and Media Authority’s (ACMA) Investigation concepts: Decency, classification, and harm and offence July 2018 report.

(b) A range of principles guide the decision on whether a race replay from a WA greyhound race meeting should appear on media platforms. They include:

  • It is important to provide Australian adults with the freedom to access content of their choice. However, the community expects safeguards about material that may be inappropriate, harmful or offensive.
  • Race replays do not have any provisions that warn consumers about potentially distressing content. Therefore, it is important that race replays do not offend generally accepted community standards.
  • Race replays must not demonstrate a contempt and disregard for either human or animal lives or suffering.
  • It would not be responsible to show distressing footage to the community without appropriate warning. It would also not show respect and consideration for the animals or the animal’s owners, trainers and carers.

It is only in very rare occasions that the race footage is removed in accordance with community standards as outlined above.

(c)-(d) In WA, 99.8% of greyhound starters race safely without sustaining a major injury.

Appropriate risk mitigation strategies as evidenced by the high rate of safe racing are in place, as are appropriate first aid measures for those rare occasion that they are required. Accordingly, consistent with many other sports or other publicly attended events where there is potential for major injury to occur, these events remain suitable for families to choose to attend and enjoy, as many do each year.