Greyhound racing ban faces crucial vote amid pleas for ‘Christmas miracle’

Tasmania’s greyhound racing industry faces its final countdown as Greens warn any delay to a ban bill could raise “false hopes” and harm animal welfare.

Greens MLC Cassy O'Connor joins greyhound and animal advocates Lesley Cave, Rosie Saville, Kirsty Alger, Helle Erhardsen and Megan Alessandrini ahead of Ms O'Connor tabling a racing bill. Picture: Elise Kaine

There must be no delay to the Legislative Council passing a bill banning greyhound racing, Greens Animal Rights spokeswoman Cassy O’Connor says.

The Greyhound Racing Legislation Amendments (Phasing Out Reform) Bill is expected to come before the upper house during its last sitting week for the year this week.

It includes an immediate ban on destruction of greyhounds for non-welfare reasons and a prohibition on breeding dogs for greyhound racing.

And it ends racing on June 30, 2029.

Racing Minister Jane Howlett told the House of Assembly “the government

is recognising that greyhound racing no longer aligns with community expectations”.

Ms O’Connor said the bill needs to be passed to put an end to the industry in this state for good.

“We’re here to say, please give the greyhounds a Christmas miracle and don’t defer this legislation,” she said.

“Because anyone who seeks to do that in the Legislative Council has to ask themselves what the point is?

“There’s been a commitment made to end greyhound racing.

“The risk that we run here in holding off this legislation is that you raise false hopes among industry participants, you potentially have significant negative animal welfare outcomes for the dogs.”

Ms O’Connor said the ban could not come soon enough.

“It’s lost its social licence and an end to greyhound racing has very, strong community support, because people recognise that these dogs are just beautiful dogs, and right now the industry is exploiting this for profit, and we know that dogs in that industry are suffering.

“They’re being killed, they’re being injured, and their lives have been shortened.

“What they deserve is an opportunity for a good home.”

Originally published as Greyhound racing ban faces crucial vote amid pleas for ‘Christmas miracle’