In announcing a ban on greyhound racing in his state just recently, NSW Premier Mike Baird said the industry was not capable in the short or medium term of reforming and in the coming months the Government would be working toward an orderly shutdown.
Now is the time for Tasmania to follow the lead of New South Wales and the ACT, and put an end to greyhound racing.
Tasmania’s Joint Parliamentary Committee into Greyhound Racing was due to report by 31 March 2016. It has been delayed until 22 September. During this delay, 189 greyhounds have been injured either before or during a race and nine greyhounds have died either before a race or due to an injury at the track, according to stewards’ reports.
‘The only difference between NSW and Tasmania is the number of people and greyhounds involved. Tasracing’s Elliott Forbes says greyhound racing in Tasmania is lawful. When they are no longer useful, most greyhounds are killed, it is legal to put a dog down simply because it is “unsuitable for racing”, says coordinator of Let Greyhounds Run Free, Fran Chambers. ‘Despite the industry’s claims of reform, hundreds of greyhounds continue to be injured and die every year on the track. Greyhounds are commodities, they are disposable and are disposed of en masse, Premier Hodgman and Deputy Premier and Racing Minister Mr Rockliff should follow Mike Baird’s lead and end this archaic and cruel sport in Tasmania’.
www.letgreyhoundsrunfree.net.au
Fran Chambers, Let Greyhounds Run Free
