Rosalie Woodruff MP | Greens Leader
Footage released by Animal Liberation Tasmania of greyhounds living in appalling conditions is deeply disturbing and shows why we need to put an end to the greyhound racing industry once and for all. It’s also crucial for the Racing Minister to commission an independent investigation into the serious situation shown in this video.
The greyhound racing industry treats dogs as disposable profit machines, bred and kept alive – often in shocking conditions – solely to make money for a tiny number of people. This gruesome and disturbing footage once again shines a light on the cruelty and suffering at the heart of this outdated industry.
Greyhound racing has been made illegal in the ACT, in more than 40 states of the USA, and across other parts of the world. In Tasmania though, the industry is not only legal, it’s being propped up with tens of millions of dollars of taxpayer funds.
Despite repeated examples of gross animal abuses, this so-called ‘sport’ still enjoys the support of both the Liberal and Labor parties. Both of this state’s major political parties have shown time and again they’re more interested in propping up this industry than they are in the conditions being experienced by these gentle dogs every day, or in the terrible injuries and deaths caused by racing and training.
The shocking experience of animals captured in this footage demands urgent investigation, but given their track record we have no confidence in the Office of Racing Integrity’s ability to do this work. Instead the Minister must commission an independent investigation into potential breaches of the Animal Welfare Act, and stand down this trainer while that work occurs.
The Liberals have previously shown themselves unwilling to do even the bare minimum to address the animal cruelty inside the greyhound racing industry, but in the face of such distressing evidence we hope even this government will feel compelled to finally act.