Greyhound Racing NSW (GRNSW) has advised the NSW Government that it rejects the compensation offer it made in December in relation to the sport's exit from Wentworth Park next year.
The NSW Government had offered $10 million in additional Capital Grant Funding for the upgrade of country tracks over the next four years. However, this was conditional upon GRNSW not pursing the $6.5 million debt owed to the organisation by the Wentworth Park Trust.
"The Government’s offer of compensation was just ridiculous and insulting to the sport,” GRNSW Chief Executive Officer Steve Griffin said. “They say they support greyhound racing, however, the actions of the Minns’ Government to date says otherwise.”
The impact to the sport in lost revenue over the next decade in leaving Wentworth Park has been independently determined to be $43 million.
"The Government's offer of compensation goes no way towards amounting to proper compensation to the sport,” Mr Griffin.
"Giving us $10 million in tied Capital Grants over the next four years is simply ridiculous when we know the Government wants all our tracks upgraded to Minimum Track Standard within the next two years.
"And we don't want taxpayers' money. We want the money that we've worked hard for. It’s as simple as that.
"The fact that this offer is tied to requiring us not pursuing a debt owed to the sport borders on extortion.
"I can only assume that this compensation offer was cobbled together quickly before Christmas last year by public servants.
“I call on the Premier to intervene and do the right thing and actually prove that his Government does support greyhound racing in this State.”
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