Mr BAYLEY (Clark) – Honourable Speaker, I also welcome this motion coming back down to this House from the upper House. I thank the members of the other place for putting their hands up there, Ms Webb, Ms Rattray and Ms O’Connor and their willingness to participate. This is an important committee. This decision has been made and greyhound racing will shut down in 2029. This committee’s role is to work out how to do that in an efficient, humane and just way for participants. Noting the makeup here, Mr Vermey, good luck; I just got a taste of what you might be in for. Ms Johnston, good luck as well. Mr Winter, while I completely acknowledge your position and the Labor Party’s position in relation to this, your strong attachment to this industry and your commitment to it, I urge you to play a constructive role through this committee because it is about how to do this in a really efficient, effective, just and humane way.
We heard in a briefing from Saul Eslake at lunchtime today about the millions and millions of dollars of taxpayer money that has been put into this industry over many years and will continue to be put into this industry for the next few years. There are important decisions to be made about how that money can be invested in supporting people through this transition through to the end of this industry. We acknowledge the cultural importance this holds for some people but it is a very small amount of people. That has been really clear.
Mr ABETZ – Point of order, Speaker. Reluctantly, I rise on a point of order to be consistent with my interventions with Mr Winter – Standing Order 142. All we are discussing is the appointment of three people, not the establishment of the committee.
Mr BAYLEY – Leader, with respect, I am urging Mr Winter as one of those appointed people to engage constructively in this committee because it is a forum to guide this change in a constructive, humane and just way. There is a lot of work to be done. It can be done in numerous different ways, and Mr Winter has choices as to how he engages in that. I simply urge him to take a very good-faith, proactive and supportive role in that committee so that the participants in the industry can have the smoothest transition to a different future.
We support this motion and thank all members who put their hands up for this committee and wish them well in their works.
