There is no doubt the only reason why the Premier would back down from shutting down the greyhound industry is he fears the inevitable backlash at the next election.

Reports coming out of Macquarie Street said that instead of pressing on with the ban, Mr Baird would instead give the industry a “final chance” to reform, with a statutory review possible in three years.

That would push the controversial issue past the 2019 election.

Timing of the speculation comes at an extremely bad time for the Premier, with media reports of a mass grave of 50 greyhounds on a property near Tamworth.

If that is the case, one would think it only strengthens Mr Baird’s case to get rid of an industry he has slammed over the past few months and to whom he has turned a deaf ear.

But instead, one week after Mr Baird declared the proposed July 1, 2017, shutdown was “locked in” a compromise seems to be on the table.

Fairfax Media said it was expected cabinet will consider a range of options that will encompass significant elements of a plan put forward by industry.

They include a controlled breeding program, total life-cycle management for greyhounds, including those unable to race, and life bans for animal cruelty, including live baiting.

No-one could be opposed to measures that attempt to rid the greyhound racing industry of cruel and barbaric practices – and there is no doubt they happen.

It is a pity that Mr Baird did not see alternatives to a total ban before now.

It can only be that he has read the political tea leaves and understands the voter backlash would be too great to sustain at the next election.

His history of undemocratic decisions being foisted on the community have him on the nose in the electorate; just ask the traditionally conservative voters at Gundagai who gave the Nationals a kicking at the recent federal election in reaction to the state government’s forced council mergers..

Now, if the backfip is true, Mr Baird will feel the heat from animal rights activists who, from all reports, were using the greyhound ban as a “thin edge of the wedge” to press for the banning of horse racing.