The end of greyhound racing in Tasmania took a huge step forward today with the tabling of legislation to phase out the industry by 1 July 2029. The Greens warmly welcome the introduction of this bill after a ten year push to end the cruelty and the subsidies.
The stories of cruelty in greyhound racing are numerous and harrowing. Dogs are over-bred to supply fresh racing hounds, housed in miserable conditions, too often injured during training and racing, and their lives are invariably shorter than other dogs who aren’t exploited for profit.
It’s no wonder polls now show the industry has lost its social license, with support for a ban at about 65% across Tasmania. It’s time for this industry, and the millions in subsidies to it every year, to end.
We have been fighting alongside animal lovers for more than a decade to end this cruel industry and let greyhounds run free. It was the Greens who moved to establish the first inquiry into greyhound racing and tabled the largest ever petition to end its taxpayer funding through the Racing Deed.
The fact that the government has acknowledged this industry needs to end is a testament to the tenacity of animal welfare advocates and the power of the progressive crossbench. The tabling of a bill to end greyhound racing is a joyous moment for dog lovers in the community, and the Greens.
These beautiful and gentle dogs deserve to run free and spend long days lazing on couches in loving homes. We’ll continue to work with the Liberals and across both Houses of Parliament to give the hundreds of dogs in the industry now just that opportunity in the years ahead.
