Greyhound Racing Victoria chairman, Peta Duncan has thrown her support behind the Tasmanian greyhound racing industry, with the news the newly-reinstated Premier Jeremy Rockliff would phase the sport out in 2029.
Duncan announced on Monday that Greyhound Racing Victoria and the thousands of participants in Victoria are standing beside the entire Tasmanian greyhound racing industry following the sudden withdrawal of support for the sport in Tasmania.
The Tasmanian government will pull the plug on greyhound racing in the state by 2029, making it the first Australian state to phase out the sport, joining the Australian Capital Territory who enforced a ban in 2018.
Rockliff announced last week that his government would cease funding for greyhound racing in the state in four years’ time, which will effectively wipe out the industry in Tasmania.
“But 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,” was Rockliff explanation for his governments decision.
Duncan was in disbelief of the decision and the about-turn from Rockcliff.
“Three weeks ago he pledged unqualified support to all three racing codes, including greyhound racing, he you knew how much work has been done by TasRacing to make greyhound racing in your state as safe as it has ever been,” Duncan said.
Duncan is astonished by the government caving in and siding with those who want to ban everything based
on no facts.
“Just 21 days after pledging his support, he has reneged on that promise, putting his personal ambition above the livelihoods of hundreds of greyhound racing participants in Tasmania who love and care for their greyhounds,” she said.
“The effects of this short-sighted withdrawal of support will ripple and reverberate across a country where more than 14,500 full-time equivalent jobs are sustained by greyhound racing and nearly $2.5 billion is contributed to state and territory economies annually. That’s why our industry here in Victoria and across Australia will stand side by side with our peers in Tasmania and ensure they have our full backing to fight your selfish and ill-conceived decision and ensure their future,” Duncan said.
In a side note, greyhound racing is set to end in New Zealand in July 2026.
