New South Wales Premier Mike Baird announced his decision to lift the ban on Greyhound racing last week and said the majority of the community wants the Greyhound industry to have a second chance. But what does social media say? Spredfast’s market director ANZ Adrian Mottershead, explores.
Since the introduction of the ban decision in July 2016, this has been a hot topic on social media with many Australians taking to Twitter to denounce or approve the new decision.
Spredfast, a social media software company monitoring what is happening on social media platforms around the word, has closely watched the reactions on Twitter in Australia.
Some keys findings were:
- 43 per cent of Australian have reacted negatively to this announcement compared to 24 per cent positively.
- 12,000 tweets have been shared on the topic in the first 48 hours of the announcement.
- The main topics were #backtheban, #livebaiting and Animal Welfare
The top 14 terms associated with the news are:
- #grehoundracing
- #backtheban
- #greyhound
- #gnswpol
- #auspol
- #mikebaird
- #livebaiting
- #breaking
- animal welfare
- #stopgreyhoundtorture
- animal cruelty
- #9news
- #bangreyhoundracing
Spredfast’s market director ANZ Adrian Mottershead said “The spike in negative sentiment speaks for itself. Looking at the top 14 terms associated with this news, they are all strongly opposed to the change. It’s clear that many Australians are deeply unhappy with the change in policy and the reinstatement of Greyhound racing.”
The conversation has been most germane to the ban reversal itself and why it was initiated in the first place. When the ban was announced in July 2016, the sentiment was largely positive (35 per cent).
Now, Australia’s response is quite negative, with more shared content about the hypocrisy reversal and continued abuse by trainers.
The top five most-shared tweets, all strongly opposed to the reversal of the ban. Three of the top five tweets come from Aminals Australia:
- John Johnson
Mike Baird has forgotten how upset he was by the report on greyhound racing abuses, but you don’t have to. pic.twitter.com/iXpU4qqPXS
— John Johnsonson (@JohnJohnsonson) October 10, 2016
- Animals Australia
While #GreyhoundRacing continues, so will this.
Dogs deserve better. #BacktheBan pic.twitter.com/gEL1I5ogz6
— Animals Australia (@AnimalsAus) October 10, 2016
- Animals Australia
There is nothing stronger in this world than our collective compassion.#GreyhoundRacing WILL end. 2day’s repeal = delay of the inevitable. pic.twitter.com/IUIXXXDxhe
— Animals Australia (@AnimalsAus) October 11, 2016
- Animals Australia
No dog deserves to suffer and die for gambling money.
Tell your MP — “I back the #GreyhoundRacing ban” https://t.co/A8Wh8NBYsa #BacktheBan pic.twitter.com/anyTHUlbX4
— Animals Australia (@AnimalsAus) October 10, 2016
- Protect Wildlife
Please Sign & RT: @MikeBairdMP : Don’t Flip On #Greyhound Ban – #BackTheBan !! https://t.co/f7dXyZ62RL via @UKChange
— PROTECT ALL WILDLIFE (@Protect_Wldlife) October 10, 2016
Through the analysis of Australians on social media, it is evident that the majority are against the ban lift and demand for its reinstatement.
