I’m thrilled to announce that I’m coming on board as the President of the Coalition for the Protection of Greyhounds.
I’m the proud owner of a greyhound named Buddy, and I’ve been an advocate for ending greyhound racing. I was previously a member of the Queensland state parliament, and prior to that, I worked in research, teaching and community engagement. I hope to bring insights into the political process to help the Coalition’s ongoing goal of ending greyhound suffering and ending greyhound racing.
I’d like to extend a big and heartfelt thankyou to the outgoing President, Andrea Pollard. As the President of CPG for the past three years, and a campaigner for many years before that, Andrea has been at the forefront of the push to protect greyhounds. She leaves a strong legacy, and I have some big shoes to fill. I’m grateful for the advice and support Andrea has offered me so far. She will stay involved with CPG as a volunteer and advocate for greyhounds
We know that most Australians are opposed to greyhound racing. With New Zealand and Wales just recently announcing the end of greyhound racing, and with a Federal election just around the corner, we have a unique opportunity to push for an end to greyhound racing countrywide.
I’m excited to be coming on board with CPG after many years of campaigning for greyhound protection. Caring for the environment and caring for animals has been part of my own political standpoint, and is part of what motivated me to get involved in advocacy and politics. I supported the campaign to halt the destructive and wasteful new Ipswich Q racing track. I spoke up about greyhound racing in Parliament. I was interviewed for the documentary ‘The Little Greyhound Film’, a gorgeous film by Indy Davies that looks at the harms and horrors of the greyhound racing industry.
In 2018, I adopted an ex-racing greyhound, Buddy, who has been my steadfast companion ever since. Buddy is the sweetest, most gentle dog. He is loving and affectionate, and will lean in for a pat from anyone who stands still long enough. From what I’ve been able to find online, he only ran a few professional races under the name ‘Honcho Leader’, and was retired early – a blessing for him, and for me. It is troubling to think about what he must have endured. When I first brought him home, he was anxious and scared. He couldn’t walk up or down stairs. I had to lift him in and out of the car. He was anxious in noisy public places. He was alert when we saw other dogs. It took many months for him to settle down. My experience with Buddy is part of what has motivated me to join CPG.
I’m also appalled by the immense amount of public money that is wasted on the greyhound racing industry every year. This industry would not survive without public funds. Nationwide, millions of dollars in public funding goes to the industry. In Queensland, around $80 million is being spent on a new, harmful track at Ipswich. In the middle of a housing crisis, and a cost of living crisis, this is unacceptable. Government’s should be putting funds towards social housing, properly funding state schools and hospitals, and providing essential services. Instead, we’re wasting millions on an industry that kills greyhounds every year. Meanwhile, everyday people are losing money to the gambling industry. This is wrong, and part of what CPG is pushing to change.
The President role is a voluntary role, and myself, and the other campaigners and advocates in CPG are volunteers. This means that every dollar that CPG fundraises goes towards our nationwide campaigns to protect greyhounds and end greyhound racing.
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