Tasmanian 2025 Election Scorecard

In the lead up to the Tasmanian election, a partnership of animal welfare and community groups has written to a number of candidates to seek their position on the funding of greyhound racing in Tasmania.

This partnership was formed four years ago and is made up of CPG, RSPCA Tasmania, Dogs’ Homes of Tasmania, Tasmanian Dog Walking Clubs, Companion Animal Network of Australia and six other community based groups.

We asked the candidates to respond to the question: “do you support ending the funding deed for greyhound racing by 2029, when the current deed expires” and asked for their response by close of business on Friday 27 June 2025. These responses along with the position of the major parties are represented in the scorecard below. 

This election, your voice is critical. Click here to send an email to your Tasmanian state MP calling for an end to funding of greyhound racing.

Responses received from candidates

Responses are in alphabetical order grouped by electorate. We have also included the party policy statements we have received. We will continue to update this page with any new information we receive. 

We provided the following information to candidates to help inform their decision:

  • Over the past 15 years, greyhound racing has received a total of $74.6 million in public funding.
  • Economist Saul Eslake has determined that in FY24 the Tasmanian Government funded greyhound racing at around $12.70 per person. This is double the average for all states and territories.*
  • The current 20 year funding deed is due to expire in 2029 and this provides an opportunity for taxpayer money to be redirected to areas of importance to the whole community.
  • Greyhound racing makes a negligible contribution to the Tasmanian economy, amounting to just 0.2% of gross state product and of total employment in Tasmania.
  • Greyhound racing is wasteful, cruel and violent – 48 greyhounds have been killed on Tasmanian racing tracks since 2020. Between 1 July 2024 and 1 June 2025, 35 dogs have died off-track, many of whom were euthanised after injuries sustained in races.
* In his new report into Tasmanian greyhound racing, economist Saul Eslake says the Tasmanian government has “an opportunity to stop throwing good money after bad“. Read the full report here.

Phillip Bigg

Independent candidate for Lyons

I do not support the use of tax payers funds, if the industry cannot support itself it should not be up to the government to keep it afloat.

Angela Offord

Independent candidate for Lyons

I am a veterinarian and see and have to treat or euthanase greyhounds sustaining injuries through racing.

With time and knowledge our understandings change, and as humans who have a duty of care to animals, we now know that animals are sentinent beings and we should not be using them for human entertainment especially when how we are using them causes unnecessary high risk to their health and welfare.

Around the world greyhound racing is being phased out or has ceased. Australia remains one of only seven countries with a commercial greyhound racing industry — and by far the largest. 

Yet in Tasmania, the government uses our taxpayer money subsidising an industry which along with its unacceptable poor animal health and welfare outcomes for the dogs involved is ultimately about gambling and we understand the societal harms of gambling more than ever before.

Any government should not be using taxpayer funds to prop up an unsustainable industry let alone one that causes harm.

The industry no longer has a social licence and is financially unsustainable- it is time to put a deadline on ending it.

Peter George

Independent candidate for Franklin

As our State struggles with rising debt and interest payments soon to reach $700,000,000, there’s no longer any logic in subsidising a greyhound racing industry an overwhelming majority of Tasmanians do not support.

If elected, I will advocate removal of industry subsidies that simply cannot be justified.

I join with those who advocate for an end to greyhound racing.

Dean Winter

Tasmanian Opposition Leader and Leader of the Tasmanian Labor Party
MP for Franklin

Tasmanian Labor supports Greyhound racing – we have for our entire 120-year history.

We support continued Government funding to Greyhound Racing, read more

Rosalie Woodruff

Leader of the Tasmanian Greens
MP for Franklin

The Tasmanian Greens support ending the funding deed for greyhound racing as soon as possible, and for a total ban on this cruel and inhumane industry as has occurred elsewhere in Australia and New Zealand.

To that end, the Tasmanian Greens recently commissioned researchers from the University of Tasmania School of Social Sciences to develop a just industry transition plan for the greyhound racing industry in Tasmania.

Read full statement from Tasmanian Greens here

Elise Archer

Independent candidate for Clark

Given greyhound racing is not self-sustaining and the concerns around animal welfare, with the funding deed due to expire in 2029, there is an opportunity for the Government to phase out this code with an appropriate exit package for those employed in the industry.

Kristie Johnston

Independent Member for Clark

Thank you for emailing me about this issue that is very close to my heart. As the fur-mum of Freddie my beautiful rescue greyhound I absolutely support the ending of the funding deed for greyhound racing and furthermore support a complete ban on greyhound racing. It is cruel and inhumane and has no place in our community.

Since elected to Parliament I have spoken out many times on this – calling out the industry for their lack of animal welfare, live baiting, blatant disregard for the law and the obscene waste of taxpayers money. I hope to be able to continue my advocacy on this issue as I know that the majority of Tasmanians want greyhound racing to end.

Claudia Baldock

Independent Candidate for Braddon

Supports an end to public funding of greyhound racing. 

Andrea Courtney

Independent Candidate for Braddon

No. I don’t support public funding of greyhound racing. Nor do I support greyhound racing.

I don’t support public funding of horse racing either. I don’t support the horse racing industry.

I am opposed to industries that exploit horses or greyhounds for profit, marketed as entertainment.

Craig Garland

Independent Member for Braddon

Supports an end to public funding of greyhound racing. 

Adam Martin

Independent candidate for Braddon

As a lifelong dog owner and animal advocate, I strongly oppose greyhound racing. The documented record of cruelty, injuries, and deaths — both on and off the track — is unacceptable in a modern, compassionate society. I believe Tasmania must move away from industries that rely on the exploitation of animals and instead invest in genuinely community-benefiting initiatives that align with public values.

I support ending the public funding deed for greyhound racing by 2029, and believe that this date should mark the end of government support for this industry. In fact, I support exploring an earlier transition where possible, with government assistance focused solely on ensuring the safe rehoming and welfare of dogs as the industry winds down.

The current funding arrangement, which has delivered nearly $75 million of public money into greyhound racing while essential services like housing, health and education are under extreme strain, cannot be justified. As Saul Eslake’s analysis makes clear, greyhound racing in Tasmania is significantly more subsidised than in any other state — while contributing almost nothing economically in return. I believe we must prioritise spending where it improves people’s lives and animal welfare, not sustains an industry built on harm.

If elected as an Independent Member of Parliament, I will use my negotiation position to push for a compassionate, economically responsible end to greyhound racing subsidies — and ultimately, to the industry itself. I would support a parliamentary inquiry into the wind-down of greyhound racing, including planning for the rehoming of animals and support for industry workers transitioning into ethical employment.

Malcolm Ryan

Independent candidate for Braddon

I support ending the funding deed for greyhound racing by 2029, when the current deed expires.
 
Background. When I was a teenager I would trap rabbits, snare possums and sell skins, cart hay, grow a patch of spuds etc to fund a week or 2 in Victoria toward the end of school holidays and stay with a family friend. My father’s friend was a professional Greyhound trainer. I have put a lead on Listowel Sue and led her into the races at Warragul, Sandown and Drouin. Listowel Sue won the Australian Cup in 1977. Many of my “teenager activities” I was engaged in are not something I would be involved with today. 
 
I mentioned at a function in an Ulverstone meeting last week, run by a group who are attempting to stop logging in the Leven Canyon area, that I grew up with a sawmill and have cut blackwood, myrtle, leatherwood, celery etc and to ask me to do that today would be akin to asking me to go back to whaling. 
 
The same can be said in regard to greyhound racing. Times have moved on and animal welfare is much different to what it was in the 1970s, thankfully.

Jack Davenport

Independent candidate for Bass

I can happily say that YES, I do support ending the funding deed.

Caroline Larner

Independent candidate for Bass

Opposes government funding for the greyhound racing industry in Tasmania.

Responses received from Parties

The Tasmanian Greens

The Tasmanian Greens support ending the funding deed for greyhound racing as soon as possible, and for a total ban on this cruel and inhumane industry as has occurred elsewhere in Australia and New Zealand. Read more

Tasmanian Labor

We support continued Government funding to Greyhound Racing, read more

The Coalition for the Protection of Greyhounds (CPG) election scorecard is an advocacy tool designed to give voters a summary of the policies of political parties in the 2025 Tasmanian state election, regarding greyhound racing funding.

To prepare the scorecard, the Coalition for the Protection of Greyhounds wrote to political parties asking for their responses to key greyhound welfare policies. We asked “Do you support ending the funding deed for greyhound racing by 2029, when the current deed expires?”.

To complete the scorecard, we took into consideration responses to our emails, as well as public comments and statements online, voting patterns and policy announcements by parties.

In addition, CPG have prepared a letter for voters to send to their state members of parliament. This can be viewed here: greyhoundcoalition.com/tasmanian-election-2025-speaking-up-for-greyhounds/ As any responses go back to individuals, CPG has not seen responses from any individual members of parliament.

CPG does not promote or oppose political parties or direct people on how to vote. CPG does not have any commercial, financial or political affiliation with any party.  The scorecard is not an endorsement of any party or candidate. It’s an issue-based summary that shows how closely party policies and objectives align with our objectives for greyhound welfare. We encourage everyone to do their own research regarding the policies of  political parties, when deciding their vote.

The Coalition for the Protection of Greyhounds publicises greyhound welfare issues including track deaths and injuries across print media, radio, TV and social media. We highlight ongoing issues with greyhound racing by conducting research into the industry and publishing reports and whitepapers. We work with supportive law makers to to advocate for legislative changes and improvements for greyhound welfare.

The Coalition for the Protection of Greyhounds does not promote or oppose political parties or direct people on how to vote.

Authorised by A. Pollard, Coalition for the Protection of Greyhounds,  PO Box 1270, Wangara, WA 6947