Cassy O’Connor MLC:
A massive, more than decade-long campaign by Tasmanian animal lovers is paying off at last. We are now at the beginning of the end for greyhound racing and all the cruelty that goes with it.
The Greens in Parliament have been proud to stand alongside dog lovers fighting for greyhounds to be free.
For a long time, we were the only ones in the House demanding an end to this industry, leading the establishment of the first Parliamentary inquiry and reforms – ironically, with Liberal support – in 2015. We also tabled massive, community-led petitions calling for the industry to end.
Change was always coming as more and more Tasmanians woke up to the cruelty, but it wasn’t happening fast enough. It’s been heartening and a game changer to be joined along the journey by others on the crossbench, particularly, Kristie Johnston MP.
To end greyhound racing by 2029, the work starts now. We must stop subsidised breeding and importing dogs from interstate immediately, start properly funding rehoming organisations, and invest in industry transition.
The real celebrations will start the day these beautiful, gentle animals are finally just free to be happy dogs.
Rosalie Woodruff MP:
We welcome the news the Liberals plan to end greyhound racing by 2029. This announcement makes absolute sense in this day and age, where support for greyhound racing is plummeting because of its terrible cruelty.
The Liberals’ announcement comes after years of pressure from animal welfare groups, declining race numbers and dozens of dead and injured dogs on tracks. It’s way past time.
The Greens have been fighting for an end to greyhound racing for over 15 years. It was Cassy O’Connor who established the first inquiry into greyhound racing, and tabled the largest ever petition to end taxpayer funding of this brutal industry.
This is another example of the influence a progressive crossbench in Parliament can have on the major parties. The Greens and progressive independents are already influencing changes to policy for the better.
Yesterday we saw the Liberals walk away from their plan to log and burn 356,000 hectares of high conservation value carbon-rich forests, and today it’s greyhound racing. We hope Labor are watching.
