Border Closures To Hugely Impact Businesses

GREYHOUND transport guru Peter Simpson averages 356km a day behind the wheel of his van flitting about south-east Queensland and NSW.

Simpson and his business will be hugely impacted by the closure of the Queensland border but says “it's not the end of the world”.

“I see south-east Queensland greyhound racing suffering,” said Simpson.

“The number of dogs from the Northern Rivers of NSW that race at Albion Park, Ipswich and Capalaba is probably equivalent to three races on a 10-race program.

“So, does Racing Queensland put on a seven-race program and keep a thriving industry racing, or do they put on no races at all. It doesn't make any sense to me, and the rest of us in greyhound racing, to just completely shut down.”

Simpson visits south-east Queensland every week picking up pups, broodbitches and stud dog semen transporting them to NSW and arranging for them to go to Victoria.

“But, there are very few race dogs that I transport,” said Simpson. “It's come down a good bit of late because Queensland racing is going so well and getting better all the time.

“I would transport only one or two race dogs interstate in a month, and that's been the case for the past eight months.”

While Simpson is aware of the impact of the coronavirus pandemic on the world (who couldn't be) he also sees light at the end of the tunnel.

“How could this be any worse than when Mike Baird wanted to shut us down for good,” he said.

“And, look how we bounced back from that.”

He is aware the changing scene, forced upon us by the worldwide panic over the virus, could change again even as close as next week.

“But, if you've got Zoom Top at home and she comes on season, you are still going to breed with her … even with coronavirus happening,” he said.