Dr WOODRUFF question to MINISTER for RACING, Mr JAENSCH
Thank you, honourable Speaker. Earlier this year, a greyhound named Dexter was surrendered to the Dogs’ Homes of Tasmania. He arrived with the usual issues: bad teeth, kennel coat and minimal information, but also with another glaring issue, he was missing an ear. The Dogs’ Home tried in vain to find out how and why Dexter’s ear was removed but were blocked at every step by Tasracing. The Dogs’ Homes provided an update yesterday on their quest for information and, spoiler alert, it’s not going well. They had to put in a RTI for Dexter’s vet records to find out what happened to him, but Tasracing blocked this release. Minister, the Dogs’ Homes rehome surrendered dogs every day and all councils rely on them, but your GBE refuses to work with them. Given your government’s humane policy to end greyhound racing, this is outrageous. Minister, will you instruct your GBE to get with your program and work with animal shelters, like the Dogs’ Homes, or are they running their own race on greyhounds?
ANSWER
I don’t have information on the specific case that you referred to. I would be happy if you would like to pass information on to me that we can follow that up through Tasracing and with the Racing Integrity Commissioner. Animal welfare is of the highest order concern for us. It’s at the forefront of our policy to phase out greyhound racing in Tasmania and to provide a fair, smooth and managed transition for all participants in that sector, and to manage the reform of the continuing codes of racing to operate without greyhounds in the future. We are deeply concerned about the welfare of greyhounds, that’s why we are progressing these reforms and related reforms to integrity in racing generally. If you have information that you can pass on to me, we’ll follow it up.
Supplementary Question
Dr WOODRUFF – I really thank the minister for that comprehensive response. My only follow‑up question is: do you accept that it’s completely unacceptable for Tasracing to block the release of a right to information? They have to go to the Ombudsman at the moment.
Mr JAENSCH – Thank you for the supplementary question. Right to Information requests go through a process of determination. Those operate under delegations and under established procedures. I’m more than happy to inquire into the application of the normal process by Tasracing or any other agency that it applies to. As I said, if you have information you’d like to provide to me, we can use that.
