Dr WOODRUFF - Thank you. You have just talked about Ms Salerno being on Defence leave but I understand that the Deputy Premier said on WIN News in July this year that the substantive person had left the role and permanent recruitment was under way. Is that true?
Mr JENKINS - No, that is not the case. That was a misinterpretation of a brief that was provided by the government office. I can confirm that this substantive employee, the GAP manager who is, as you correctly stated is on extended Defence leave, retains that substantive role. We expect that the incumbent will return on, I think, 24 January next year.
Dr WOODRUFF - So, you have full confidence in Ms Salerno?
Mr JENKINS - Absolutely.
Dr WOODRUFF - Given that her daughter, who was recently terminated from GAP resides with her in the property that they use, do you expect that Ms Salerno will be able to return to her role in those circumstances?
Mr JENKINS - It is not really for me to comment. That is a matter for Ms Salerno and her daughter. I again confirm that Ms Salerno retains her substantive role upon returning from extended Defence leave.
Dr WOODRUFF - We understand that Tasracing is planning to spend $400 000 to upgrade security at the Greyhound Adoption Program. Correct me if that figure is wrong. Who exactly are you afraid of?
Mr JENKINS - I can take that. It's an operational matter. No, I'm not sure where that figure is derived, Ms Woodruff. I am not aware that we are planning to spend $400 000 or anywhere near that on infrastructure at the GAP facility. What we are intending to do is construct a new purpose-built admin facility and also a set of kennels, and we're currently finalising designs that will be put forward to the council. I'm not sure where that figure is coming from around security. As I've mentioned, I can confirm we have no plans to make that type of investment in security infrastructure.
Dr WOODRUFF - Would you be able to provide us with the information about how much is being spent on security and how much is being spent on the build that you're talking about?
Mr JENKINS - Yes.
Dr WOODRUFF - Why would you construct any security? Who are you afraid of? Has there been instances of people trying to break in?
Mr JENKINS - It's a commercial property and, again as I've mentioned earlier, it's in a pretty isolated location out there on the highway and bad lighting. We have staff living in the residence next door and we've almost 30 greyhounds that are located in the property, so I think it's entirely reasonable that we may invest in lighting or close circuit TV or have security guards there. It's entirely reasonable.
Dr WOODRUFF - Is it because of animal welfare activists? Maybe if you invested that large amount of money into the welfare of the animals at GAP then they wouldn't be as concerned about the situation, wouldn't be trying to find out what is going on?
Mr JENKINS - Any investment that we make in infrastructure or personnel as regards security is not prompted by activists. As I say, they're operational decisions based on the location and the nature of the facility.
Dr WOODRUFF - Have any staff ever commented about being afraid? Has there ever been a concern lodged by staff that they are concerned about the security of the premises?
Mr JENKINS - Not directly to me, no.
Dr WOODRUFF - So you are spending taxpayer money doing these upgrades, but you've got no evidence for why they're needed?
Mr JENKINS - Again, it is a commercial property in an area that is isolated and has poor lighting. Yes, I am potentially investing in upgrades to infrastructure and that may include lights, cameras and security personnel. Yes.
Dr WOODRUFF - There are people on site all the time, though. It's not like it's an unattended facility.
Mr JENKINS - No, that's not the case.
Dr WOODRUFF - I live in rural Tasmania and I don't have that sort of security and lights and CCTV on my property.
Mr JENKINS - Again, this is a commercial property where we have responsibility for care of nearly 30 greyhounds. In terms of the property being staffed 24/7, the property next door, the residence, is separate and there is not the expectation of 24/7 staffing. We do want to assure ourselves that there is appropriate supervision.
Dr LENZ - Just a couple of points to clarify. CCTV has been in operation on the property, certainly for as long as I have been there. I am pretty sure it was there before I commenced. There has been no additional infrastructure added to that. The $400 000 figure-
Dr WOODRUFF - That's the figure we've heard.
Dr LENZ - That is my department and I would very much agree with your proposition that there are much better ways to spend that amount of money. I don't know where that figure has come from and it is not something that I would feel is money well spent.
Dr WOODRUFF - Does Tasracing have plans to educate or penalise trainers who repeatedly present greyhounds to GAP that have behavioural problems or substandard levels of health and hygiene and, if not, why not?
Dr LENZ - As I outlined earlier, there is a process when a dog first comes onto the property and is retired by the trainer and given to GAP for us then to find the dog a suitable home. There is an intake assessment that is done, so the dog's condition is documented in a condition report which we have provided now to the Office of Racing. If the condition report of a particular dog indicates that there may be an issue it is up to the person who makes that condition report to pass that on to the next person and the chain of command, which in this case is the manager, and it is then for the manager to assess that report and make a decision as to whether any further action is warranted. We obviously would support that process to go ahead and if there is something to be concerned about, the appropriate body to make that investigation is the Office of Racing Integrity and that's the process we expect to be followed.
Dr WOODRUFF - I don't understand, because GAP is responsible for or receives the greyhounds. Shouldn't you be developing a reporting policy rather than handing it out to ORI? It's a question of the animals that you receive.
Dr LENZ - Yes, correct. It is our responsibility absolutely to make any reports on the condition of the dogs if there is a concern. The people who provide the dogs to us are licensed trainers who are subject to the rules of racing. Tasracing is responsible for adopting the national rules or for making local rules of racing, but it is the Office of Racing Integrity that actually enforces those rules. Once again, if GAP identifies an issue with a dog, it is absolutely the appropriate path for the Office of Racing Integrity to be involved and they will then investigate and come to any conclusions and mete out any sanctions they see relevant.
The really important part is that GAP follows through with that process and as outlined, there is a condition report completed for every dog that comes onto the property and if there are concerns about conditions of a particular animal or group of animals, that needs to then pass on to the next person in the chain, which is the manager, for them to make an assessment and progress if that is deemed necessary.
Dr WOODRUFF - Can you then commit to developing a mandatory reporting policy to the Office of Racing Integrity?
Dr LENZ - It's already in place. The first step of that process I outlined is for the staff member who receives the dog to complete their condition report and if there is any concern from that condition report, to pass that on to the manager.
Dr WOODRUFF - I mean a mandatory reporting policy to ORI.
Dr LENZ - That is the process.
Dr WOODRUFF - How many dogs have been referred in the last three years, per year?
Dr LENZ - I can only talk for the period I have been on the program, which is from mid-January, and there haven't been any reports of animals that have come through to the manager and then been escalated back to me.
