Latest news with #RSPCATasmania
Perth Now
13 hours ago
- Business
- 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
13 hours ago
- Politics
- 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
ABC News
2 days ago
- Politics
- ABC News
Animal welfare advocates, industry react to end of Tasmanian greyhound racing
RSPCA Tasmania's chief says she was "overwhelmed with joy and hope" on hearing the premier's announcement this weekend that greyhound racing will be phased out in the state. Dogs' Homes of Tasmania has also backed the move, calling it a "monumental step for greyhound welfare". Speaking on Sunday, Premier Jeremy Rockliff pledged to wind up greyhound racing in the state by June 30, 2029, after citing concerns "about the welfare of participants and greyhounds". The timing coincides with the end of the current funding deal for the greyhound code, which concludes in 2029. The move comes as Mr Rockliff's recently recommissioned Liberal government attempts to secure the support of crossbenchers, after failing to win a majority at the recent state election. The Liberals have 14 seats and Labor 10, and both need backing from the crossbench to make up the 18 required to form government. RSPCA chief Andrea Dawkins said that, regardless of motivation, the commitment reflects what advocates had been "looking for and asking for, for many years". Ms Dawkins acknowledged a growing chorus for change reflected by bans already in place in the ACT and New Zealand. Ms Dawkins said hundreds of dogs would need rehoming each year of the transition phase, and organisations taking on the task would need funding to do that. "It's going to take a collective community approach to ensure that every single dog is safely rehoused." An independent report earlier this year found government funding for greyhound racing was rising year-on-year faster than the state's annual spend on education, but returns were "diminishing". The state's racing industry has been mired in controversy in recent years, facing criticisms over transparency and animal welfare. "The reality is the greyhound industry is at the crossroads, is in decline and it is increasingly clear it does not align with community expectations," Mr Rockliff said on Sunday. Tasracing, which manages the state's three racing codes, is backed by a 20-year funding deed it signed with the government in 2009. At the time it was worth $27 million per year, indexed for inflation. The state government funds three racing codes — greyhound racing, thoroughbred horseracing and harness racing. Following the latest commitment, the funding portion for greyhound racing will not be renewed once it expires in 2029. Hobart Greyhound Racing Club chair, Stephen Lockley, said the decision to wind up the sport had hit the industry hard. In a statement, industry body Tasracing acknowledged the announcement. "We will engage with all industry code stakeholders and other stakeholders about the decision," it said. Throwing her support behind the initiative, Racing Minister Jane Howlett said she was "deeply committed to ensuring those in the greyhound industry, their families and their communities are supported through this transition". Ms Dawkins said the RSPCA wanted a "just transition" for racing industry participants. "For the industry participants that we have worked with, they have been people who have been wonderful to work with," she said. "The long lead-in time is entirely appropriate, and we thank them for their willingness to work with us, while we join many, many other jurisdictions in the world in stopping using dogs as a gambling product." Labor leader Dean Winter said greyhound racing employed about 650 Tasmanians. He said people who relied on the industry were "waking up this morning to see their livelihoods being traded off by Jeremy Rockliff". "Any decisions of this magnitude need to be taken carefully, following due process, and not as part of a political bid to cling on to power," he said. Mr Winter has confirmed a no-confidence motion will be moved in Mr Rockliff's minority Liberal government once parliament resumes on August 19. It is not known whether Labor would reverse the current decision if they were to form a minority government. A parliamentary committee will oversee the transition, with advice and support from Racing Integrity Commissioner Sean Carroll.
Yahoo
5 days ago
- General
- Yahoo
Council's drastic measure as 'constant supply' of invasive predators takes over
An Australian council has taken a drastic move to halt the spread of an invasive predator by placing a strict ban on the species. From next week, feral cats found at two waste depots will be trapped, seized or detained, and in some cases, euthanised. The decision comes as the Tasmanian council reports a "constant supply" of the invader surrounding the area, with both sites serving as a breeding ground for the species. Across Australia, feral cats are one of the most successful and destructive invasive species and have contributed to the country's status as having the worst mammal extinction rates in the world. Meander Valley Council said the decision has been guided by expert advice as it aims to reduce risk to local wildlife, livestock, pets and public health. Andrea Dawkins, CEO of RSPCA Tasmania, told Yahoo News it "very much supports" the decision by the council. "Feral cats are increasingly present around the waste depots, contributing to ecological impacts and public health concerns," the council said in a statement. Cat owners warned as prohibition order put in place The council has warned pet owners to ensure that their cats are desexed, microchipped and "safely contained at home". In the Meander Valley council area, cats are not allowed to roam freely. RSPCA's Dawkins said the organisation advocates for the confinement of pet cats, "as this is the only way to ensure their cats' safety." She explained that councils across Tasmania can declare areas of prohibition of cats, "but it has taken some time for them to utilise this mechanism". "A necessary provision in managing these projects is to adopt a humane approach and ensure that every step of the trapping project has a solid plan," she said. "This involves working closely with vets and Cat Management Facilities to ensure that cats have their health and sociability assessed quickly, and the appropriate next steps taken based on the veterinary advice. Extent of feral cat problem across Australia Landcare Tasmania Chief Executive Officer, Peter Stronach, previously described the issue of stray and feral cats in the region as "devastating" on wildlife, agricultural systems and human health through direct predation and disease. Across the country, feral cats, together with foxes, have helped drive over 25 native species to extinction, and continue to threaten more than 100 others — including small marsupials, ground-nesting birds, and reptiles — many of which occur nowhere else in the world. Estimates suggest they kill more than a billion native animals every year and cost the Aussie economy around $1 billion a year, including expenses for control efforts, ecological damage, and biodiversity loss. "We know that feral cats and roaming pet cats are incredible hunters, incredible killers, and have had this enormous toll on wildlife," Invasive Species Council CEO Jack Gough recently told Yahoo. He is calling for a national approach to feral and domestic cat containment. 🐈 Calls for major rule change as 'big threat' roams free in Aussie state 🪤 Australia's $60 million plan to go to 'war' with invasive predator 😢 Homeowner's garden photo highlights 'devastating' Aussie problem Council's responsibilities for cat owners include: Containment: Owners must ensure their cats do not roam freely, particularly in designated wildlife protection areas. Desexing and Microchipping: All cats over four months old must be desexed and microchipped, with some exemptions. Breeding: To breed cats, you must be a registered breeder or have a cat breeding permit. Cat Limit: You can keep up to four cats over four months old on your property without a permit. Selling or Giving Away Cats: Cats must be over eight weeks old, desexed, microchipped, vaccinated, treated for worms, and free of external parasites. Cat Control: In certain situations, you are allowed to trap, seize, and humanely destroy cats. The two sites include Deloraine Waste Depot and Westbury Waste Depot in Tasmania. The prohibition, under the Cat Management Act 2009, will be in place from August 13. Do you have a story tip? Email: newsroomau@ You can also follow us on Facebook, Instagram, TikTok, Twitter and YouTube.
ABC News
21-05-2025
- Business
- ABC News
Tasmanian greyhound racing unprofitable and costing taxpayers, Saul Eslake review finds
Funding for Tasmanian greyhound racing is rising faster than for education, according to independent economist Saul Eslake, who says the state government has "an opportunity to stop throwing good money after bad". Ms Eslake said a report — commissioned by 12 animal welfare advocacy organisations, including RSPCA Tasmania, and Dogs Homes of Tasmania — the sport had received a total of $74.6 million from Tasracing over the past 15 years, "rising from $3.5 million in 2010-11 to a projected $7.5 million in 2024-25". Funding for greyhound racing has risen by an annual average of 5.6 per cent over the past 15 years — faster than education funding over the same period (4.1 per cent), and general government sector spending (5.2 per cent). The report also found the sport received $12.70 per head in 2023-24 — more than twice the national average of $5.27. Mr Eslake wrote that the returns were "diminishing", with attendances, race starters, wagering and employment declining. For every $1,000 the code received, four people attended a race meeting in 2021-22 — down from 6.4 in 2011-12. The industry also supports 82 jobs for each $1 million it receives, down from 150 in 2011-12. A report by IER, performed for Tasracing, found that in 2021-22, greyhound racing sustained and created 639 full or part-time jobs, or 0.2 per cent of the state's employment. Tasracing and the state government have been contacted for comment. Deb Fleming, who is representing the 12 organisations that commissioned the report, said animal welfare concerns were not being heeded by the government or the Labor opposition, which both support greyhound racing. "They fall back on justifying the well-known animal welfare issues — that are just unavoidable in dog racing — by saying it's vital for the economy, particularly in the regions, and that it provides lots of jobs and lots of benefits to the economy," she said. "So we thought it was a reasonable thing to obtain an independent interrogation of those claims from one of the most respected independent economists in the country." She said Mr Eslake's report made it clear that greyhound racing was a "dud investment". Sixty-two per cent of respondents to a 2023 EMRS poll were opposed to greyhound racing, while about 79 per cent agreed the government should stop spending money on it. Tasracing, which manages the state's three racing codes, is backed by a 20-year funding deed it signed with the Tasmanian government in 2009. While it was then worth $27 million per year, it is indexed for inflation. Tasracing received just over $36 million in 2023-2024. That represents about half of its income, with the remainder coming via wagering, entry fees, media rights, and sponsorship. The deed is partially funded by the sale of betting agency TOTE Tasmania, which the government sold for $103 million in 2011. With the current deal set to expire in 2029, Tasracing and the state government are currently in negotiations for a new one. Mr Eslake described the negotiations an "opportunity", and said there was a "growing case" for the taxpayer not to back greyhound racing. "Its popularity is declining significantly — especially in the aftermath of revelations concerning animal welfare," he said. Tasracing has released a draft Code of Practice for Racing Greyhound Welfare, which it says is similar to standards in place in other jurisdictions. "While it was prepared to provide guidance to the Tasmanian industry, it also provides critically important assurances to the Tasmanian public about the welfare oversight of racing greyhounds in the state," said chief veterinary and animal welfare officer Martin Lenz. The final code will be enforceable under the Rules of Racing. "Amongst other things, it specifies minimum standards for accommodation, management, breeding, socialisation and care required to meet the physical and behavioural needs of a racing greyhound throughout its entire life cycle," Dr Lenz said.
