Dr WOODRUFF – Minister, the report that I provided you this morning – the great work of Animal Liberation Tasmania, the 19 reviews of properties and the evidence of the 748 dogs who have raced this year – contains the story of Zipping Princess. On 10 September 2023, she was offered, for free, by the Williams and McCrickard syndicate owners on Gumtree. She was in a terrible state, in a very, very unwell – was totally distressed – and she was rushed to the vet surgery. Three days later she subsequently died. The evidence was that she had adhesions that strangled her bowel and evidence of animal cruelty was profoundly written on her beautiful body. She was only three years old and the Gumtree listings and the record of exchange of Zipping Princess shows that many dogs like Zipping Princess are being privately rehomed out of the industry, with a third of greyhounds who retired out of the industry in the period of April to June last year being privately rehomed.
One of the recommendations of this report today is that there should be a ban on the use of Gumtree for the rehoming of greyhounds. Do you agree? Yes, you’re nodding.
Ms HOWLETT ‑ I do agree, Dr Woodruff, I do agree with that.
Dr WOODRUFF – That is very good news. Is it your intention to make sure that the new arrangements would include such a ban?
Ms HOWLETT – I look forward to whoever ‑
Dr WOODRUFF – There’s one there today, Ms Johnston is just passing me the information.
Ms HOWLETT – whoever the TasRIC may be when they start having those conversations and seeing what we can do to have better outcomes for the racing industry. Deirdre, would you like to say more?
Dr WOODRUFF – Here we are today, minister, we’ve got the evidence of another dog and we’ve just heard from Anita next to you that it’s going to be months and months.
Ms HOWLETT – Hopefully not.
Dr WOODRUFF – Sure, but can’t you step in now and ban this practise? You’ve got that power?
Ms HOWLETT – I can certainly have a discussion with Tasracing about that. It’s how we enforce that power that I will need to have the discussions about. Deputy Secretary?
Ms WILSON ‑ Minister, with your indulgence, because you did mention the Zipping Princess matter, I’ve just got a short update. This issue has been in progress for a protracted period due to associated legal processes. These processes are now almost finalised and the result of the steward’s inquiry on this matter will be published in due course. Because it is still active, we can’t make any other comment at this time as it would be inappropriate.
In terms of the other matter, in terms of Gumtree, I think that as the minister said, it would be a matter for discussion at this stage with Tasracing.
Dr WOODRUFF – It’s just blatant, isn’t it? It should be illegal and it’s happening. It’s good to hear that you’re going to do something.
Ms HOWLETT ‑There are certainly things that we can do a lot better, Dr Woodruff, a lot better.
