Meddick Whipping Up A Storm
Western Victoria MP Bev McArthur denounced Andy Meddick MP’s deceptive motion in Parliament about the use of whips in the Victorian horseracing industry.
The motion claimed to be about “reform to reduce the use of the whip", “that horses in the racing industry deserve our care and respect” and that animal cruelty should be condemned.
Mrs McArthur asked, “Who could possibly oppose these motherhood statements? Obviously horses deserve our care and respect and we would all condemn animal cruelty.”
“But we all know that this is not Mr Meddick’s real agenda.”
The Animal Justice Party MP’s real agenda is to ban horseracing altogether.
Mrs McArthur reminded the Parliament, “the vast majority of people involved in the horse industry love their animals. They would not be in the industry if they did not.”
“In Mr Meddick’s and my electorate of Western Victoria Region there are 20 racing clubs. The banning of horseracing would have a massive consequence economically to the region.”
“We know that the thoroughbred racing industry’s contribution to the economy in our area, especially around Geelong, Ballarat, Warrnambool and the south-west, totals $260 million and the industry is responsible for 11,000 jobs.”
“The direct contribution of the racing industry to the state economy is $1.4 billion. The indirect contribution is $2.9 billion; a total of $4.3 billion. Direct jobs in the industry amount to 15,415, indirect 18,411, totalling over 33,000 jobs in this important industry.”
“These figures are significant, especially at a time when we are talking about job creation and keeping people in work, particularly in rural areas. These are specialist jobs, the people involved in them love their work and the horses.”
“Mr Meddick’s motion is the short edge of the wedge and the beginning of the downhill slide to end racing; a legitimate country activity which creates a lot of joy, a lot of value, and is a very important part of Victoria’s history.”
15 September 2021
