Mr President, I know it is getting late and I was not going to say anything on this, but you say the name Ben Yole and the pink mist descends because we found out today that the Office of Racing Integrity has approved Ben Yole to keep training.
The decision by the Office of Racing Integrity to renew harness racing trainer Ben Yole’s licence is appalling and insulting to all Tasmanians who want strong animal welfare standards in the racing industries.
Tasmanians were shocked by the Office of Racing Integrity's decision to reinstate harness racer Ben Yole's licence despite the active investigation into allegations of his race fixing, team driving and animal abuse. It is great that a panel is doing an investigation, but the point is that it is shocking he has started racing again while the investigation is ongoing.
Madam Deputy Speaker, I want to acknowledge that we are speaking to this bill in our role as the voice for animals in Tasmania and as the voice for all Tasmanians who care about the welfare of animals.
Puppies born that do not survive because they are not used to race; they are wastage to the industry.
Yole Stables’ domination of Tasmanian harness race meets in the last two months highlights the complete failure of Racing Minister Felix Ellis to deal with key findings from the Murrihy report.
Revelations from Animal Liberation Tasmania that 4 greyhounds have been catastrophically injured while racing in the last week will distress many
Bullock was finally brought to heel after footage published by Animal Liberation Tasmania advocates.
After the 2015 parliamentary Greyhound Inquiry, the racing industry has been on notice to reform and build its social licence.
We see that the Animal Welfare Act and the Office of Racing Integrity as they function are clearly not fit for purpose.