This episode of "Talking Couch Potatoes" highlights the recent Western Australian government hearings by the Estimates Committee: One hearing for the WA Greyhound Racing Association and Racing and Wagering WA; the other for Free The Hounds to present their case from an economic perspective.

"Chasing the Money Trail: In Pursuit of Government Inquiry" marks a pivotal moment where the government has stopped to listen and question.

Matt and Mel discuss some of the hearing's talking points:

The end of the Greyhound Injury Recovery (GIFR) Scheme, with the heartbreaking and unprecedented increase in greyhound deaths since it closed.

The economics of the WA greyhound racing code being funded and supported by our tax dollars through the WA Government.

AND how the The Free The Hounds 2024 Petition to end greyhound racing in WA addresses these and more concerns! Sign the Petition!

Sign the Petition here (WA residents only) https://bit.ly/endgreyhoundracinginWA

Watch the hearings here https://www.parliament.wa.gov.au/Parliament/commit.nsf/(ProceedingsOnly)/565CF18B75D4E0F04825872F0014B55F?opendocument#Hearings

Revelations Film Festival website here https://www.revelationfilmfest.org/

In this episode of Talking Couch Potatoes, Matt & Mel look into the reality of greyhound welfare in South Australia with our special guest, Elle, the president of the Greyhound Welfare Initiative. Elle shares her personal journey, which began with the adoption of her first greyhound, Maggie, and how it ignited a passion to advocate for these gentle creatures.

Elle paints a vivid picture of the dismal state of greyhound welfare in South Australia, where neglect and mistreatment have shaken the community, including shocking footage capturing blatant cruelty and violence inflicted upon greyhounds. This exposé led to a government inquiry, which uncovered the harsh realities of the industry and issued strong recommendations for reform.

Throughout the episode, Elle passionately emphasizes the urgent need for change and highlights the importance of advocacy to ensure a brighter future for greyhounds in South Australia.

Check out GWI here https://greyhoundwelfareinitiative.com.au/

In this episode of 'Talking Couch Potatoes', special guest Jackson, wagering analyst, discusses The Murphy Report, 'You Win Some, You Lose More' a comprehensive government report making waves with its recommendations aimed at addressing problem gambling in Australia.

Jackson explains how these proposed measures are poised to impact the revenue from greyhound racing.

He highlights how the COVID-19 pandemic provided a temporary boost to the industry. However, since then, gambling revenue has taken a noticeable downturn, posing a threat to the profitability of greyhound racing. This is currently playing out across eastern states of Australia with severe and abrupt staff lay-offs and greyhound welfare cuts.

Join Matt, Mel, and Jackson for an engaging and informative episode as they navigate the entwined intersections of WA government policy, and the future of greyhound gambling in Australia.

See the full report here https://www.aph.gov.au/Parliamentary_Business/Committees/House/Social_Policy_and_Legal_Affairs/Onlinegamblingimpacts/Report

Sign the petition to #endgreyhoundracinginWA here https://bit.ly/endgreyhoundracinginWA

Sign the 2024 Petition here https://www.parliament.wa.gov.au/Parliament/LCePetitions.nsf/($All)/B0E44E4103D9D08C48258AC100256186?opendocument

Help a rescued greyhound here https://greyhoundadoptionswa.com.au/

Our guest this episode is Aislinn, a Veterinary Nurse, who introduces us to her hound Bertie, discusses the common issue of dental health and the interesting topic of greyhounds as universal blood donors.

Mel also addresses the email response from the Western Australian Racing and Gaming Minister, Paul Papalia, to our recent email blitz; once again pointing out the fallacies and misinformation provided by the WA Racing and Wagering department to justify the deaths and track safety in WA.

Details here for the Sandgroper Protest at Cannington Track https://fb.me/e/3N6P40j8v

Click this link to sign our petition if you are a WA resident https://www.parliament.wa.gov.au/Parliament/LCePetitions.nsf/($All)/B0E44E4103D9D08C48258AC100256186?opendocument

See the lovely Ded Bets Runaway music video here https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xQZF0eOqdFY

Our guest this episode is Sebastian Broadhurst, an economist that has investigated the methods and data used by the consulting firm IER; used by various racing bodies for their economic reports to government, including Racing and Wagering WA.

Termed as 'fluff pieces' these reports use bad methodology and at times non-existent data to glorify the economic benefit of the racing industry in Australia. Join us as Sebastian unveils the truth behind the reports and the danger of using such methods to inform government decision making.

Read Sebastian's report here https://www.freethehounds.com.au/economists-review-of-the-ier-report-2/

Sign our petition here https://www.parliament.wa.gov.au/Parliament/LCePetitions.nsf/($All)/B0E44E4103D9D08C48258AC100256186?opendocument

Find the IER 83-page report here https://www.rwwa.com.au/about/corporate/corporate-reports/economic-social-impact-report/

Exploring the topic from diverse perspectives, they also delve into recent events like the Perth heatwave and scrutinize the latest injury statistics from Racing and Wagering WA, pointing out questionable and misleading data.

Tune in as they navigate the complexities so you too can feel informed as you advocate for these beloved hounds.

Sign and share the petition here https://www.parliament.wa.gov.au/Parliament/LCePetitions.nsf/($All)/B0E44E4103D9D08C48258AC100256186?opendocument

Join our hosts as they travel to the first national Greyhound Protection Workshop in Melbourne, where passionate advocates from across Australia convened to champion the changes needed to end greyhound racing. In this episode, we delve into the stories and perspectives of those driving the movement forward. Hear from experts, spokespeople and politicians as they share their insights, challenges and hopes for a brighter future for greyhounds in Australia.

Thanks to Free The Hounds, The Coalition for the Protection of Greyhounds, and Blue The Grey for driving this powerful meeting of minds to create change.

https://www.freethehounds.com.au/

https://greyhoundcoalition.com/

https://www.bluethegrey.org/

In this episode, Matt and Mel interview Andrea Pollard, the President of the Coalition for the Protection of Greyhounds (CPG), a prominent national advocacy group in Australia. The discussion delves into the grim realities surrounding greyhound racing nation-wide, provides data-driven insights into the extent of the problems, and highlights the urgent need for advocacy and reform within the industry.

They explore the future for greyhounds, emphasizing the importance of collective action and legislative measures to ensure the welfare and protection of these beautiful animals.

With increased awareness of the ethical implications of greyhound racing, we hope listeners will be inspired to join the movement for change, guided by Andrea and our host's impassioned advocacy and commitment to justice for greyhounds.

Visit CPG's website here for further references and to sign up to volunteer

Visit Free The Hounds' website here

Sign the new WA Petition to End Greyhound Racing (WA residents only)

Sign up here to help us with our petition in Western Australia

Statistics, stewards reports and other references please find here