Tasmania has the most scandal ridden greyhound racing sector in Australia.
Media coverage has been extensive and unrelenting. An e-petition to state parliament calling for an end to taxpayer funding of the industry broke all records.
Now, ten dog welfare organisations have united to work to convince the state government that it should be planning ahead to withdraw all subsidies for dog racing when the current funding ‘deed’ expires in 2029. These range from RSPCA Tasmania to Tasmanian Dog Walking Clubs, as well as specific greyhound welfare organisations.
This would allow time for an orderly transition and for all participants to be redeployed and retrained and for dogs to be rehomed.
The campaign, advised by external, well qualified strategists, has many prongs including opinion polling, unified, consistent messaging across all stakeholder platforms, recruitment of high profile influencers and lobbying (public and private).
Grants are being sought and the campaign is also being crowdfunded. Money raised will be spent on lobbying, research and advertising. Every cent will be accounted for, and any money that is left over will be donated to charities that help to re-home greyhounds that are discarded by the industry.
For more information on how the racing industry and the Tasmanian government is failing greyhounds, read the CPG report “Current state of greyhound racing regulation: Tasmania“.
2024 Tasmanian election
In the lead up to the Tasmanian state election, a number of candidates were contacted to find out their views on taxpayer funding of the greyhound racing industry.
Visit the Let Greyhounds Run Free facebook page to learn more.
Take action today
Donate to this campaign and help save greyhound lives
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Tasmanian poll reveals overwhelming opposition to dog racing
The result of the most comprehensive opinion poll ever conducted into greyhound racing in Tasmania reveals overwhelming public opposition to dog racing.
The survey was conducted in October 2023 by EMRS, Tasmania’s leading polling and research organisation. The survey found that three quarters of all Tasmanians oppose government funding of the greyhound race industry, including 55 per cent who say they are strongly opposed to it.
Below is a quick snapshot of the key survey responses presented as charts. Click here to download a comprehensive survey document including the methodology employed.
The catalyst for the end funding campaign including this poll was the well-publicised death of a Bullock trained dog, Tah Bernard, in late 2021. The result was a 13,500 signature parliamentary e-petition last year. The petition called for an end to taxpayer funding of dog racing. It smashed the previous record for e-petitions to the state’s lower house.
Each year, the Tasmanian government provides approximately $6m of funding to the Tasmanian greyhound racing industry. Which of the following best describes how you feel about this support?
I would consider changing my vote to support a party that promised to stop funding the greyhound racing industry in Tasmania.
Now thinking about greyhound racing, how likely or unlikely are you to attend a race in the next 12 months?
The government should stop funding greyhound racing because taxpayer money is better spent on other things.
Updates and news
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