Cassy O'Connor MP | Greens Leader
The Tasmanian Greens are elated at news that New South Wales will ban greyhound racing from July 2017.
We hope the Hodgman Government now takes a lead from their New South Wales Liberal colleagues and ends the cruelty of greyhound racing in Tasmania.
This is a momentous and wholly just decision by Premier Baird that will save the lives of thousands of greyhounds as well as native and domestic animals used as live baits in NSW.
The New South Wales' Premier has recognised the inherent cruelty in greyhound racing and acted in a the best interests of animal welfare. It's surely time Tasmania did the same.
We congratulate Premier Baird and the Greens' late MP, John Kaye, a passionate animal advocate who fought for the inquiry into the NSW greyhound racing industry.
It was whistleblowers, activists and ABC investigative journalism that revealed the cruelty of live baiting and wastage systemic in Australia's greyhound racing industry.
In Tasmania, taxpayers prop up the greyhound racing industry to the tune of $5 million each year. The industry is unable to sustain itself financially. This is government subsidised animal cruelty.
While the Tasmanian Liberals' animal welfare record is pretty shabby to date, we hope the Premier will have the courage to follow in the footsteps of his New South Wales counterpart.
It is our sincere hope New South Wales is the first domino to fall, and other States will follow.
The Greens will continue to fight for the greyhounds trapped in the Tasmanian industry and those yet to be born to die as part of a cruel industry.