Dr WOODRUFF ‑ Minister, back to the the terrible reality of the conditions that greyhounds that are involved in the racing industry in Tasmania suffer everyday, the injuries that this report compiles ‑ and as you said before, this is all government data but it’s never been collected together in a place that is so clear – it shows the the horrible scale of cruelty that occurs on a regular basis.
At almost every race there is a dog injured at the track. In fact, it would be exceptional if it didn’t happen. Some of the figures over just this last year – one year in the greyhound racing industry in Tasmania – in one quarter, 71 dogs were injured, 63 were injured and eight were seriously injured and had to be stood down for a period of three weeks or more. In the previous quarter, 88 injuries, with 77 so-called minor injuries, and 11 are so serious that they had to be stood down for three weeks. We know from the evidence of this report that greyhounds that suffer injuries at the track go on and can subsequently die from those injuries because it can take weeks for their death to occur.
Minister, this is the reality of the greyhound racing industry in Tasmania. Do you accept that it has cruelty baked into the heart of it?
CHAIR – Before the minister answers that question, I know that there’s been requests for me to rein in the length the minister’s taking to answer some of the questions. That question took a minute and a half and there’s been quite a few that have gone over a minute. I’m happy to keep the timings of answers, but that’ll include keeping the timings of the questions too. I’ll just make that point.
Ms HOWLETT – Thank you, Chair, and that’s why our new legislation will provide the Tasmanian racing industry with a modern, effective, and fit for purpose model for regulation integrity, including improvement to animal welfare outcomes.
The government and Tasracing now invest more than $1 million to support animal welfare every year. I want to ensure that dogs are treated with dignity and care before, during and after their racing days, and I welcome the shared interest from the Leader of the Greens, Dr Woodruff, and also the independent member for Clarke on this.
To ensure full transparency regarding animal welfare, Tasracing is providing information in the annual report on equine greyhound track injuries, euthanasia, retirement, and rehoming statistics. As confirmed by the Leader of the Greens during the Racing Regulation and Integrity Bill 2024, information can be gathered by the Office of Racing Integrity and Tasracing public disclosures. I’ve stated before, there’s no hiding of any information. It’s transparent and it is available.
That is why the government provided $200,000 in grant money last year to RSPCA towards several animal welfare initiatives, including for the RSPCA to analyse lifetime traceability options for greyhounds as well as adoption processes and linkages to local government. I am advised that options for electronic lifetime tracking of greyhounds similar to a system utilised by the New South Wales Greyhound Welfare Integrity Commission are actively being considered. We have announced additional funding for the RSPCA to access an investigation management system for their animal welfare officers. This system will align with those existing in our agencies and will ensure more consistency in information management.
I’m advised that the RSPCA and ORI will provide their recommendations for lifetime traceability options for greyhounds and adoption processes to me, as the Minister for Racing, in the coming months. This includes a new traceability option for noseprint technology that the Office of Racing Integrity is exploring. I look forward to receiving their report and recommendations, and working with the RSPCA and industry on their implementation.
Improvements in traceability relating to rehoming are important in building transparency and trust. As Racing minister, that’s my priority. I want to rebuild trust and restore faith in the industry. We are getting on with the job. I look forward to the new legislation being enacted very soon.
Dr WOODRUFF – Minister, what we’ve got is 5 per cent of the greyhounds that started racing over the last year are now deceased and 10 per cent of them have suffered serious injuries. According to your own data we’ve had something in the order of 300 that have suffered injuries of some type. This is out of 748 greyhounds. Do you accept that there is inherent risk for dogs racing in the greyhound industry?
Ms HOWLETT – Deceased, accidental causes, were a total of seven; deceased, illness or age, were a total of seven; deceased, natural causes, were six; deceased within 14 days after track injury were one, deceased, injury, was one; euthanised at track due to –
Dr WOODRUFF – Chair, point of order, standing order 45. It’s not the question I asked.
Ms HOWLETT – This is important information.
Dr WOODRUFF – I’ve just quoted the statistics to the minister about the number of deaths and injuries.
CHAIR – I can’t direct the minister to answer a question in a particular way. I’ll draw the minister to the question, but I’ll allow you to ask additional questions and follow a line of questioning, if you can please let the minister answer in silence.
Ms HOWLETT – Deceased, injury, one; euthanised at track due to injury, two; euthanised within 14 days after track injury, four; euthanised due to illness or age, 22; euthanised due to injury, 14, euthanised due to not suitable for racing, zero; euthanised due to not suitable for rehoming, two. The number deceased is 66 from 1 July 2023 to 30 June 2024.
Dr WOODRUFF – And?
Ms HOWLETT – I’ve read you the stats I have.
Dr WOODRUFF – My question remains. You haven’t answered that yet. I’ve been waiting patiently.
Ms HOWLETT – I just read you my stats. I have not had the time, as you would be well aware, to read the report you have presented to me. I will do so in due course.
Dr WOODRUFF – You still have not answered my question, minister. The question was: there are, by your government’s information – and you’ve got some of it that you’ve just read out, 5 per cent of all the dogs that have raced in the last year have died as a result of track injuries. There is another 10 per cent that have suffered serious injuries. Do you accept that there is an inherent risk to dogs racing in the greyhound industry, including all the information you’ve just read out? Or do you think that that’s an anomaly, that this year is somehow different to every other year for the greyhounds in this industry?
Ms HOWLETT – Dr Woodruff, as I said, euthanised at track due to injury were two and euthanised within 14 days after track injury were four.
Dr WOODRUFF – That is deliberately not listening to the question and answering it. I’m slightly embarrassed on your behalf. Will you please answer the question?
Ms HOWLETT – I’ve answered your question.
Dr WOODRUFF – You think there’s no risk?
Ms HOWLETT – I’ve answered your question. Dr Woodruff. Chair, I’ve answered the question.
CHAIR – Last question and then we go to Mrs Pentland.
Dr WOODRUFF – On the racing legislation that’s been through, can you describe to me the current situation about who undertakes inspections for greyhounds at properties, how they’re housed? As it stands, it is ORI that undertakes the inspections.
Ms HOWLETT – Announced and unannounced.
Dr WOODRUFF – ORI is being axed and replaced with the Animal Racing and Welfare Commissioner, if I remember correctly. This is moving to a sort of self-regulation where stewards who are employed by Tasracing will do the welfare checks on track. Who is doing the property checks under the new legislation?
Ms WILSON – The bill that was passed moves the stewards into the Tasracing integrity unit, which is headed by Tasracing chief racing integrity officer. That group is set up to report to a board, which has two independent officers. The most important thing I would like to say is that the Tasracing integrity commissioner will be setting animal welfare standards. Under the bill they will set standards for numbers of inspections and they can undertake an audit function.
Dr WOODRUFF – Who will do the inspections of properties?
Ms WILSON – It will continue to be stewards but I would also note that if there’s –
Dr WOODRUFF – They will inspect trainers’ properties and owners’ properties?
Ms WILSON – As they do now.
Dr WOODRUFF – So, the industry will self-regulate itself when it comes to animal welfare conditions?
Ms WILSON – I will go to the facts around the bill, rather than any commentary. The bill sets up a Tasmanian racing integrity commissioner who can set standards and can audit. In terms of the regime, it has important checks and balances.
