Dr WOODRUFF – Minister, this report. A Few Bad Apples is being released today by Animal Liberation Tasmania. I can’t table it, but I could hand you a copy if you would like to receive it. It is being released today and it is a very deep independent review of 19 properties in government data that has been compiled on deaths and injuries in the greyhound industry. It paints a terrible and accurate picture of what is happening in greyhound racing in Tasmania.
It quite clearly sets out some devastating statistics. Five per cent of the 750 dogs that have been raced in Tasmania in the last year alone have died on the track, and over 10 per cent of them have suffered serious injuries requiring more than a three-week stand-down period. Half of them have died aged three years or younger from injuries sustained on the track, and over half have died from injuries on the track or from trialling or at trainers’ properties.
Minister, it is clearly not just ‘a few bad apples’ that are creating this intolerable situation for gentle greyhounds, is it? These are the facts of what is happening in greyhound racing in Tasmania. You should not need to get advice about this. It is clearly a systemic issue: 750 dogs, 5 per cent of them in this year alone have died, and 10 per cent of them have suffered serious on-track injuries. It is not just a few bad apples, is it?
Ms HOWLETT – Thank you, Dr Woodruff. I respect that we have different opinions, and what I will say is: the majority of whether it be greyhound owners, thoroughbred owners, or harness owners and trainers do the right thing, and they look after their animals. The majority do the right thing. You just handed me this report that Animal Liberation Tasmania have commissioned. As I said, the majority of owners and trainers do the right thing in all three codes in the Tasmanian racing industry.
Dr WOODRUFF – Well minister, the facts speak for themselves. When you’ve got 748 dogs that have been racing this year, 5 per cent of them have died from on-track injury, 10 per cent of them have suffered serious track injuries, many more of them have suffered lower level track injuries. This is the reality of the industry: it’s broken. Its daily operation and survival depends on cruelty and pain and suffering of incredibly gentle dogs and their premature deaths, not to mention the public funds that are required to prop it up.
How can you say that this is an industry of animal lovers? And how can you pretend that it’s not systemic?
Ms HOWLETT – Thank you, Chair, and thank you, Dr Woodruff. As I said, the majority of racing participants love their animals and any fatality, whether it be on-track or off-track, is heartbreaking for owners and trainers. I am absolutely committed to ensuring contemporary animal welfare outcomes are met by all three codes and to ensure full transparency regarding animal welfare. Tasracing is providing information in their annual report on equine and greyhound track injuries, euthanasia, retirement, and rehoming statistics. As confirmed by the leader of the Greens during the Racing Regulation and Integrity Bill debate, all this information can be gathered from the Office of Racing Integrity and Tasracing’s public disclosure. There’s no hiding behind any information. It’s transparent and it’s available.
Our legislation will result in stronger animal welfare standards and increased transparency across the industry and I look forward to that being enacted very soon. I can table you any statistics or read them out to you as far as greyhound mortality notifications from the 1 July 2023 to 30 June 2024, if you would like.
Dr WOODRUFF – No, thank you. I’ve got them all and they’re compiled in this report. I’ll move to my question. This is available from public data, but what has never been available is the independent evidence that’s provided through video footage of just the last year alone of the intolerable conditions that greyhounds are subjected to living in across Tasmania. These are 19 properties. This is not just one person. They all show conditions which are absolutely deplorable. And the question is, is the reality of the pain and suffering that is required for the greyhound racing industry to continue the reason that you didn’t include the word humane in the racing act changes that went through in that legislation? Is that why you can’t actually require that this industry is humane because if you did it would have to close down?
Ms HOWLETT – No, that is not the reason, and Dr Woodruff, can I thank you for your report.
Dr WOODRUFF ‑ It’s the report of Animal Liberation Tasmania, their independent work.
Ms HOWLETT – I can’t read that report now, but I will take the time and consider and read the report that you have provided through Animal Liberation Tasmania.
Dr WOODRUFF ‑ But, in answer to the question, is this reality the reason that you can’t actually require this racing industry to be humane because if it was required to be so then it would not survive because it survives for profit on these horrible conditions that greyhounds are subjected to and their premature death.
Ms HOWLETT ‑ Dr Woodruff, you’ve heard me say this many, many times: the Tasmanian government is absolutely committed to improving animal welfare outcomes in the racing industry across all three codes. I’ve said that so many times. Kennel and stable inspections are a key tool in ensuring animal welfare at training facilities are met. Contemporary standards and that these facilities –
Dr WOODRUFF – But they don’t.
CHAIR – Order.
Ms HOWLETT – Thank you, Chair. These facilities are compliant with the rules of racing.
The Office of Racing Integrity conducts risk‑based and targeted inspections of licensed racing premises, ensuring that racing animals are properly cared for and licensed participants are complying with animal welfare legislation and the rules of racing. In the 2023‑24 financial year, stewards from the Office of Racing Integrity conducted 437 inspections of licensed training facilities compared to 392 in the 2022‑23 financial year. Under the Racing Regulation and Integrity Bill 2024, inspections will continue under the new integrity model.
