Tasmania’s planned greyhound racing ban stalled by legislative committee review

Tasmania’s greyhound racing ban has hit a roadblock after the Legislative Council voted to send the legislation to committee, delaying any final decision until March.

Rosie Saville greyhound welfare advocate with greyhounds Jimmy and Abby along with Premier Jeremy Rockliff. Premier Jeremy Rockliff in relation to legislation to be introduced to phase out greyhound racing in the state. Picture: Nikki Davis-Jones

The state government’s attempt to ban greyhound racing has been delayed after the Legislative Council referred a bill to a committee for further consideration.

Greyhound Racing Legislation Amendments (Phasing Out Reform) Bill was passed by the state’s lower house last 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.

But the Legislative Council’s vote late on Wednesday means the bill will not face a final vote until March next year at the earliest.

Independent MLC Ruth Forrest moved the motion to refer the legislation to a committee for further consideration.

“I acknowledge the genuine animal welfare concerns that underpin the policy intent of this legislation. These concerns are important and deserve to be taken seriously personally,” she said.

“I’m not a fan of the racing industry, it holds no attraction for me but I am a strong supporter of proper process transparency and treating people, particularly smaller and minority groups, with respect when making decisions that directly and profoundly impact their lives and livelihoods.

Ruth Forrest Independent member for Murchison in the Legislative Council. Picture: Nikki Davis-Jones

“Participants had 100 years of bipartisan political support, then three weeks after the election, they were told the industry would be shut down by phone call from the minister’s office literally hours before the policy announcement was made.

“There was no consultation, no communication other than that very late phone call, and in my view, no respect.

“That is not how we should treat Tasmanians, regardless of our personal view about their industry.”

The government opposed the motion.

Greens MP Cassy O’Connor said ending greyhound racing was the right thing to do and should be done without delay.

“The Greens concern is that delaying the bill plays right into the industry’s hands at the expense of dogs and in defiance of clear public sentiment,” she said.

“Delay and then a complete derailment of this reform is the industry’s goal.

“The issue here is that you either support greyhound racing or you don’t … in the end, it is that simple, and overwhelmingly, Tasmanians don’t support greyhound racing.

Sarah Lovell MLC. Picture: Linda Higginson

Labor’s Sarah Lovell said her party agreed with the motion.

“Our position on the bill is clear. We have opposed the bill in the House of Assembly, and we think this is a bad decision for Tasmania, but today’s debate in the Legislative Council is really about the process.

“This process has been an absolute shambles. It has been dishonest, it’s been rushed, it hasn’t allowed people to have a say in a bill that will have a very significant impact on Tasmania, should it be passed, and on an industry that supports thousands of Tasmanians.

“This process really needs to be slowed down and allow people to have a say, whether you agree with the industry or not.

Originally published as Tasmania’s planned greyhound racing ban stalled by legislative committee review