Greyhound Racing Ban Legislation Delay

The Legislative Council has voted to delay debating the greyhound racing ban until early next year, prompting strong reactions from political stakeholders. The following media releases from the Greens and Labor outline their contrasting responses to the delay and the implications for the industry and the government.

Media release – Cassy O’Connor MLC, Greens Animal Rights Spokesperson, 10 December 2025

Greyhound Bill Delayed, Not Defeated

The Legislative Council has voted to delay debating the greyhound racing ban until early next year.

While this decision defers the passage of the bill, the fact has not changed that this industry is on its last four legs.

The greyhound racing industry has been lobbying members of the Legislative Council to delay the bill.

The bottom line is that the industry does not want the industry to end. Labor is the industry’s political cheerleader.

It’s clear Labor is not in line with public sentiment.

Overwhelmingly, Tasmanians want this industry, its cruelty and the public subsidies that go to it, to be phased out.

The Racing Integrity Commissioner, Sean Carroll, has been clear the bill needs to go through the Parliament as soon as possible so the transition plan for the industry can begin.

Deferring this bill will mean the transition period cannot be started in January as planned.

The delay of this legislation has real potential to give false hope for the greyhound racing industry.

The industry deserves the certainty of a just transition away from an industry which has lost its social license.

Sadly, the deferring of this bill will have real impacts for the beautiful dogs caught up in this cruel industry.

The Racing Integrity Commissioner confirmed breeding numbers are up, more dogs are being imported from interstate and more are being ‘euthanised’.

Delay means dogs will continue to be exploited, abused and disposed of before the term of their natural life.

Despite the Greens opposition to delaying the greyhound racing ban bill, the Greens will continue to provide the scrutiny voted on by the Legislative Council as a member of the committee for the transition of the greyhound racing industry.

The Greens have been fighting to end greyhound racing for a decade and the Greens won’t stop just because of this delay.

The Greens will keep pushing for an end greyhound racing early next year, so these dogs can finally run free and be given the love the dogs deserve.

Media release – Dean Winter, Shadow Minister for Racing, 10 December 2025

Liberal-Green Greyhound Deal defeat leaves Rockliff sell-out in tatters

Irrespective of what you think about greyhound racing, Tasmanians want to see community members treated with dignity and respect.

Before the election, Jeremy Rockliff told the greyhound racing community the community had Rockliff’s full support.

But just a few weeks later Rockliff announced Rockliff would shut the industry down as part of Rockliff’s deal to form government with the support of the Greens and Kristie Johnston.

The plan has backfired spectacularly today. Only one MLC outside the Liberals and Greens supported dealing with the Legislation – instead sending the Legislation back to the Greyhound Transition Committee to do the work the Government should have done.

Not even Rockliff’s Leader for Government Business, Tania Rattray, supported debating the Bill.

This has been rushed, poorly thought through Legislation that has had almost no oversight, no proper consultation and no mandate.

The Greens crowed about achieving a salmon review and a shutdown of the salmon industry after the Greens’ deal with Rockliff went through.

Yet the Greens get to the end of the year propping up a disastrous, dishonest Liberal Government that has wrecked the budget and plans to sack 2,800 workers.

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