Tasmania government to end funding for greyhound racing by 2029
Tasmania is the second jurisdiction in Australia to end greyhound racing, after the ACT in 2018.
Premier Jeremy Rockliff said it was 'increasingly clear' that greyhound racing 'does not align with community expectations'.
'I'm concerned about the future of the industry and continue to be concerned about animal welfare,' he said.
'It's time to draw a line in the sand and ensure an orderly exit from greyhound racing in Tasmania.'
The Liberal government will phase out its funding by June 30, 2029, with an oversight committee established to 'responsibly map out the pathway forward'.
'As we deliver a measured and sensible phase-out of greyhound racing, I want to be crystal clear on my support for the broader racing industry, its participants, and our regional communities,' Mr Rockliff said.
Minister for Racing, Jane Howlett, said the Racing Integrity Commissioner would 'provide advice and support to help guide this transition'.
'I am deeply committed to ensuring those in the greyhound industry, their families and their communities are supported through this transition,' she said.
RSPCA Tasmania have welcomed the decision to end government funding for greyhound racing, with a Nay report indicating a decline in support for greyhound racing in the state.
'Greyhound racing in Tasmania is propped up by taxpayers while putting the welfare of animals at risk,' RSPCA Tasmania chief executive Andrea Dawkins said.
'The community expects better, and it's time for government policy to catch up with public sentiment.'
In an open letter to the Tasmanian premier, Greyhound Racing Victoria chair Peita Duncan said Mr Rockliff was 'putting (his) personal ambition above the livelihoods of hundreds of greyhound racing participants'.
'To cave in and side with those who want to ban everything based on no facts is both soul-destroying and incredibly disingenuous for those who believed your previous commitments,' she wrote.
Originally published as Tasmania government to end funding for greyhound racing by 2029
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ABC News
an hour ago
- ABC News
RSPCA's Andrea Dawkins responds to announcement Tasmania's greyhound racing industry will end
Andrea Dawkins I heard about it on Saturday evening and my response was, as for many animal welfare advocates in Tasmania and indeed around the country, it was tears. I could not believe it. I had to call the person who sent me the message to confirm it and it still took me a minute to actually let it sink in that it could be real because there's very, very few days like that as an animal welfare advocate. We don't get many wins and this is considered to be quite the victory because it took a lot to get either Labor or Liberal to break ranks on greyhound racing and I applaud that decision. Ryk Goddard It's not the end of greyhound racing if the greyhound racing industry can fund itself. Do you think it's likely to continue? Andrea Dawkins I don't think it is likely to continue. I mean, that's probably more of a question for Saul Eslake or an economist, but it appears to me from everything that I've read and also from the media release from Jeremy Rockliff on the weekend that it would be phased out. Ryk Goddard What support have they talked about providing both for the industry and also welfare for dogs as the industry ends so there isn't just a mass euthanasia? Do you have any details? Andrea Dawkins No, we don't have any details yet and that's what that parliamentary committee would be set up to investigate. Sean Carroll, the Commissioner for Racing Integrity, it would be very important to have him at that table and other people with significant positions of power, but of course we need to make sure it's a just transition, not just for animal welfare advocates and organisations who'd be rehoming the dogs, but also for participants in the industry. People like the RSPCA, those who work here and the broader animal welfare ecosystem, we've got a social mission. Our mission is not at all costs to get what we want. It's to wrap services around everybody who needs them, including the people in the industry as they exit. It's very, very important that the community understand that. Ryk Goddard Lachlan from Gilston Bay said greyhound racing in Tasmania is not an industrial complex like New South Wales. It's more like Darryl Kerrigan from the castle and he says overwhelming majority of people love their dogs. Andrea Dawkins That's correct. I completely agree. It's not that machine. It's still considered an industry by Tas Racing, but certainly my interaction with those owners and trainers as they're surrendering dogs to us, it's absolutely more like that mum and dad kind of backyard. But honestly, it's not fit for purpose for those dogs. They might love them, but it's a very different kind of version of animal welfare than the one that we hold as the highest and we expect those people to be some of the first. If there is a just transition and a package available to be able to avail themselves of those packages. Ryk Goddard Andrew Dawkins, CEO of RSPCA Tasmania and until recently a Launceston City Councillor. Do you have any reasons why you stepped down last week? Andrea Dawkins I just woke up on Thursday morning and I knew it was my time. I looked back on my call. Ryk Goddard Really? It was that sudden? Andrea Dawkins Look, it was. I'd been leading up to it for some time, knowing that I wasn't going to contest again and knowing that I wanted someone to take my place and give them a chance to embed themselves, to have an opportunity to push through that next election. But after 10 years and trying to hold all of those complex issues, everybody's concerns and the way that I needed to advocate for my community, as well as being the CEO of the RSPCA, when I actually knew that greyhounds were going to need me. In fact, when people contacted me and said, why have you stepped down? I said, I just woke up and knew that I needed to be here to help greyhounds. And then three days later, the news breaks. So maybe it was some sort of precognition. Ryk Goddard What would be your next target as the RSPCA? Andrea Dawkins Oh, gee, it's pretty early days for that. I mean, we do have an advocacy agenda. There's still pets in rentals. There's still some sitting in Parliament, as is the amendments to the Dog Control Act and Animal Welfare Act around the dog regulations, which would mean there'd be a cap on breeders. So there's still some really important work that got stuck with this last election. But we're still very concerned about shooting ducks in Ramsar wetlands and a number of other issues. So cat management is not under control in Tasmania. As an animal welfare advocate in this role, I will never have a sperm in it.
Perth Now
4 hours ago
- Perth Now
State's major call on greyhound racing
The Tasmanian government will phase out its funding for greyhound racing by 2029, effectively eliminating the industry in the state. Tasmania is the second jurisdiction in Australia to end greyhound racing, after the ACT in 2018. Tasmania will effectively end the greyhound racing industry. Christian Gilles / NewsWire Credit: News Corp Australia Premier Jeremy Rockliff said it was 'increasingly clear' that greyhound racing 'does not align with community expectations'. 'I'm concerned about the future of the industry and continue to be concerned about animal welfare,' he said. 'It's time to draw a line in the sand and ensure an orderly exit from greyhound racing in Tasmania.' Tasmanian Premier Jeremy Rockliff said the public's sentiment towards greyhound racing had waned in recent years. NewsWire/ Nikki Davis-Jones Credit: News Corp Australia The Liberal government will phase out its funding by June 30, 2029, with an oversight committee established to 'responsibly map out the pathway forward'. 'As we deliver a measured and sensible phase-out of greyhound racing, I want to be crystal clear on my support for the broader racing industry, its participants, and our regional communities,' Mr Rockliff said. Minister for Racing, Jane Howlett, said the Racing Integrity Commissioner would 'provide advice and support to help guide this transition'. 'I am deeply committed to ensuring those in the greyhound industry, their families and their communities are supported through this transition,' she said. RSPCA Tasmania have welcomed the decision to end government funding for greyhound racing, with a Nay report indicating a decline in support for greyhound racing in the state. 'Greyhound racing in Tasmania is propped up by taxpayers while putting the welfare of animals at risk,' RSPCA Tasmania chief executive Andrea Dawkins said. 'The community expects better, and it's time for government policy to catch up with public sentiment.' In an open letter to the Tasmanian premier, Greyhound Racing Victoria chair Peita Duncan said Mr Rockliff was 'putting (his) personal ambition above the livelihoods of hundreds of greyhound racing participants'. 'To cave in and side with those who want to ban everything based on no facts is both soul-destroying and incredibly disingenuous for those who believed your previous commitments,' she wrote.
Sky News AU
4 hours ago
- Sky News AU
Tasmania government to end funding for greyhound racing by 2029
The Tasmanian government will phase out its funding for greyhound racing by 2029, effectively eliminating the industry in the state. Tasmania is the second jurisdiction in Australia to end greyhound racing, after the ACT in 2018. Premier Jeremy Rockliff said it was 'increasingly clear' that greyhound racing 'does not align with community expectations'. 'I'm concerned about the future of the industry and continue to be concerned about animal welfare,' he said. 'It's time to draw a line in the sand and ensure an orderly exit from greyhound racing in Tasmania.' The Liberal government will phase out its funding by June 30, 2029, with an oversight committee established to 'responsibly map out the pathway forward'. 'As we deliver a measured and sensible phase-out of greyhound racing, I want to be crystal clear on my support for the broader racing industry, its participants, and our regional communities,' Mr Rockliff said. Minister for Racing, Jane Howlett, said the Racing Integrity Commissioner would 'provide advice and support to help guide this transition'. 'I am deeply committed to ensuring those in the greyhound industry, their families and their communities are supported through this transition,' she said. RSPCA Tasmania have welcomed the decision to end government funding for greyhound racing, with a Nay report indicating a decline in support for greyhound racing in the state. 'Greyhound racing in Tasmania is propped up by taxpayers while putting the welfare of animals at risk,' RSPCA Tasmania chief executive Andrea Dawkins said. 'The community expects better, and it's time for government policy to catch up with public sentiment.' In an open letter to the Tasmanian premier, Greyhound Racing Victoria chair Peita Duncan said Mr Rockliff was 'putting (his) personal ambition above the livelihoods of hundreds of greyhound racing participants'. 'To cave in and side with those who want to ban everything based on no facts is both soul-destroying and incredibly disingenuous for those who believed your previous commitments,' she wrote. Originally published as Tasmania government to end funding for greyhound racing by 2029
