Stephanie Houghton Stuck In The Starting Boxes
The Chair of Greyhounds Queensland Limited [GQL], Ms Kerry Watson, today
slammed the Greyhound Breeders President, Stephanie Houghton for her
negative approach to the amalgamation of the racing codes into a single control
body and risking the industry changing financial funding from the Bligh
Government.
Ms Watson said "The Queensland Government has committed $80 million over
four years on the basis that the three codes amalgamate the control bodies"
In damming Houghton for her unrealistic approach to the deal being offered by
the Bligh Government, Watson went on to remind racing industry participants that
it was Stephanie Houghton who sided with 'the big end of town' when the TAB
privatisation agreement was negotiated that resulted in the Greyhound industry
receiving approximately $3 million a year less revenue than their entitlement
since 1999.
Stephanie Houghton and her supporters from the 'big end of town' can hardly be
taken seriously by the Greyhound code considering the unequitable position that
the code has suffered from the last round of negotiations conducted by
Stephanie Houghton on behalf of the Greyhound code.
Surely the greyhound industry is not going to be sold out again, by Houghton's
call for an independent board dominated by' the big end of town'.
The new combined control body structure and board representation is
fully supported by the Greyhound board and has the 'in principal support of
government' and will work in the best interests of all codes. There will be
adequate safeguards put in place in the amended legislation to protect
Greyhounds.
Ms Watson went on to say "This is the Greyhound racing industries best
opportunity to expand and prosper in a stable and realistic environment."
Watson went on the front foot in applauding the Bligh Government's initiative to
recognise the importance of the racing industry in Queensland, and, in doing so it
is incumbent on all codes of racing to make the new model work and maximise
the funding benefit.
Ms. Kerry Watson
Chair
13 January 2010