Media release – Cassy O’Connor MLC, Greens Animal Justice Spokesperson, 10 December 2024
New Zealand Bans Greyhound Racing, Time for Tasmania to Follow
In a major victory for animal welfare advocates and greyhounds, the conservative New Zealand government has announced a ban on greyhound racing.
Aotearoa is finally bringing the suffering and cruelty of greyhound racing to an end, with the industry to be phased out over the next two years and the final ban coming into effect in July 2026.
Greyhound racing is now banned in many countries. It’s also illegal in the ACT, for good reason. It is a form of state-sponsored violence towards gentle, blameless dogs. Increasingly, everyday people find this completely unacceptable.
It’s past time for the Tasmanian Government to show the same humane leadership. The Liberals and Labor here need to accept the reality that greyhound racing has lost its social license due to the grotesque level of exploitation and public subsidy underpinning the industry.
As each day goes by without taking the necessary action, beautiful, sentient greyhounds are suffering neglect, injury and early death.
It has to stop. Aotearoa’s conservative government gets it. Hopefully, the Premier and his Racing Minister are paying attention to developments across the Tasman, and it gives them courage to act.
Dogs Home of Tasmania Leads Call for End to Greyhound Racing
The Greens are proud to be sponsoring the Dogs Home of Tasmania petition calling on the Rockliff Government to follow the lead of Aotearoa New Zealand’s government and announce an end date for greyhound racing in Tasmania.
New Zealand’s conservative government this week announced an end to greyhound racing by July 2026 due to the ‘unacceptably high’ rates of injury and death suffered by the dogs this industry exploits.
Rates of injury and death to these beautiful, gentle dogs are also unacceptably high in Tasmania.
Support for greyhound racing continues to decline as more and more people become aware of the hideous cruelty and massive public subsidies that underpin this industry.
In October 2023, EMRS polling found only 11% of those polled supported greyhound racing. This is an industry on its last legs.
The Dogs Home petition calls on the Rockliff government to show the same humane leadership as Aotearoa’s, announce an end date to greyhound racing and fund a fair transition for those in the industry, as well as funding for not-for-profit local animal welfare organisations to rehome ex-racing dogs.
We expect the petition to gain thousands of signatures before it’s tabled in the Legislative Council early next year. Every signature will increase pressure on the Liberals and Labor to do the right thing and agree it’s time to end the cruelty.
Petition: https://lcepetitions.parliament.tas.gov.au/lcepet/Home/PetitionDetails/46?title=Petition%20Details
Media release – Andrew Wilkie, independent MHR for Clark, 14 December 2024
nz’s move to ban greyhound racing a wake-up call to australia
“The New Zealand Government’s commendable move to ban greyhound racing is a wake-up call to Australia”, Independent MP Mr Andrew Wilkie said. “We are now one of just four countries in the world that still tolerate this barbaric industry, or more accurately celebrate it. Australia has more tracks than the remaining three countries combined. This year alone more than a hundred dogs have died racing, and more than 11,500 have been injured. It’s cruelty on steroids and the only way to end it is to ban the industry.
“How any Australian state or territory government can not only allow it but prop it up with huge taxpayer-funded subsidies, really does beggar belief. They either don’t care about animal cruelty or are scared stiff of the greyhound racing industry. Or maybe it’s just another case of politicians being totally beholden to the parasites in the gambling industry.”
Media release – Jane Howlett, Minister for Racing, 16 December 2024
Delivering a strong plan for racing in Tasmania
The Tasmanian Government has delivered on its strong plan for the biggest reforms to the racing industry in decades.
Minister for Racing, Jane Howlett, said 2025 will usher in a new integrity model, codes of practice and training programs which are part of the Government’s 2030 Strong Plan for Tasmania’s Future.
“Since the 2024 election we have moved to introduce reforms that will restore faith and rebuild trust across all three codes of Tasmania’s racing industry,” Minister Howlett said.
“This includes the appointment of the state’s first Racing Integrity Commissioner, Sean Carroll, who started in the job this week.
“In November we confirmed the appointment of four people to the new Racing Integrity Committee, which will be chaired by international legal practitioner Regina Weiss.”
The Racing Regulation and Integrity Act 2024 will commence on 1 February 2025 and the Commissioner’s oversight, functions and powers, along with those of the committee will be activated then.
Mr Carroll will have extensive powers to set integrity and animal welfare standards and comprehensive investigatory functions across all three codes of racing in Tasmania – harness, thoroughbred, and greyhound.
In October the Tasmanian Government announced the development of an Equine Code of Practice developed after extensive consultation with industry participants and stakeholders.
Minister Howlett said the code covers key aspects of the care, welfare and health of racehorses kept in Tasmania and applied to all people with responsibility for the care and management of racehorses.
“The racing industry generates close to $208 million in economic activity for Tasmania, and involves more than 6,400 people across the State,” Minister Howlett said.
“The Tasmanian Government this year provided $100,000 in the Budget over two years to ensure Tasmanian stewards have access to professional development and training to help grow jobs in the industry.
“We are also continuing to invest in workforce renewal with the successful Cadet Stewards program.
“Investments like these allow participants and the community to be reassured that our stewards have the skills and knowledge required to maintain the rules and integrity of racing.
“The Tasmanian Government’s actions in 2024 will help drive reforms for the racing industry that will ensure the community can trust that racing is conducted with integrity in Tasmania.”
