GREYHOUND Racing NSW 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.

GRNSW chief executive officer, Steve Griffin, said the offer was “insulting”.

“The Government’s offer of compensation was just ridiculous and insulting to the sport,” 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,” 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,” he said.

“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.”

Shadow Minister for Racing, Dave Layzell, said if the Minns Labor Government is serious about supporting the greyhound industry, “they need to put their money where their mouth is”.

“This compensation offer doesn’t come close to what is needed. It has been independently determined that the sport will lose $43m in revenue over the next decade by leaving Wentworth Park,” Mr Layzell said.

The Minns Labor 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.

Last year it was announced that 11 of the state’s 26 tracks were being closed, with many of those in regional communities including Broken Hill, Wagga Wagga, Muswellbrook and Coonamble.

Mr Layzell said the industry must be properly compensated to ensure community tracks across the state are upgraded to a certain level within the next two years.

“I am calling on the Minister and Premier to sit down with industry representatives and find a way forward,” he said.