Wednesday, 22 March 2023

Motions

Greyhound racing

Georgie PURCELL (Northern Victoria) (10:00): I move:

That this house:

(1) notes that:

(a) there is no digital whole-of-life tracking scheme for Victorian racing greyhounds;

(b) the manual tracking of Victorian racing greyhounds increases the risk of greyhounds going missing, being illegally exported or illegally euthanised, and makes it more difficult to hold those responsible to account;

(c) a whole-of-life digital tracking scheme will improve Victorian greyhound welfare and ensure community expectations are met;

(2) calls on the government to implement a digital system to improve greyhound traceability through an automated whole-of-life tracking system that:

(a) tracks every individual racing greyhound pre and post registration for racing, including puppies born into the industry that are never registered to race;

(b) provides the industry with the ability to account for every greyhound registered in Victoria;

(c) streamlines transparency and industry processes by providing one system for all industry transactions;

(d) provides accurate euthanasia data for all greyhounds, including those in the industry rehoming program, the Greyhound Adoption Program;

(e) uses integrated scanning technology to enable Greyhound Racing Victoria to record and track the location of every registered greyhound in Victoria, in real time, at every stage of their life, including when retired; and

(f) is supported by Greyhound Racing Victoria rules, requiring owners of pre-racing, racing and retired greyhounds to regularly check-in every individual greyhound in their care via the digital tracking system.

As the old saying goes, dogs are our best friends, but here in Victoria the dogs in the greyhound-racing industry tell us a much different story, because to this day in Victoria greyhounds are not afforded the same protections as every other breed of domestic dog. This government invested $6.2 million in the last financial year into an industry that is opposed by the majority of taxpayers, according to new research from the Australian advocacy group, the Coalition for the Protection of Greyhounds, and Grey2K USA. Regardless of which side of the fence you sit on, I assume that all corners of this house will want reform and transparency in an industry that is so heavily kept afloat by the government. However, to date there has been no parliamentary review of this self-regulated industry that has steadily decreased in both popularity and participation over the years.

The last review, in 2015, after the infamous live baiting scandal was an internal industry review – eight years ago. Yet we are led to believe that this is still sufficient, that all of the problems are cleaned up, that participants do not commit acts of cruelty and that dogs do not continue to die. Everything I am about to present to this house today has happened since the so-called clean-up of this industry and the new structure and powers given to the Greyhound Racing Victoria (GRV) integrity unit that replaced the RSPCA MOU. I want to make it clear that a line in the sand has been drawn and referring to the so-called review is simply not relevant to what I am calling for today.

While an electronic whole-of-life tracking system would be a small but welcome reform if passed, it is not groundbreaking. I have engaged at length with the industry, and they always summarise with the same thing – that they love the dogs. We have a different idea of what love and care is for animals, but if they are being honest, then they should want reform too – and whole-of-life tracking is a way to prove it. The whole world is starting to shut down and dismantle greyhound racing because it is cruel, it no longer has a social licence, it is incapable of complete reform and it has proven itself to be unsustainable. It is of course illegal in Australia’s capital, the ACT. In fact commercial greyhound racing only exists in six countries across the world. Only two tracks remain in the United States and the pressure mounts daily across the United Kingdom. Still, this system is an overdue positive first step. Ultimately I, along with a committed group of stakeholders, will continue to advocate for a full inquiry into the industry as a whole, including the regulator. No Australian state or territory has truly implemented whole-of-life tracking. The closest is New South Wales, but their system is imperfect, and we must learn from that.

Canya Cruise, Turbo Tommy and Deliver are three Victorian greyhounds with the current status of ‘retired’. ‘Retired’ or ‘rehomed’ in this industry can mean multiple things. It means a dog stops racing one day and is dumped at a pound for euthanasia the next. It means a dog stops racing one day and is bludgeoned to death by being hit on the head with a rock the next. It means a dog stops racing one day and is left to languish and starve in a concrete kennel and die a drawn-out and painful death. It can mean a dog stops racing one day and is sent to China for breeding in the illegal greyhound-racing ring the next. Does that sound like the type of retirement Victorians would want for our companion animals? The industry therefore gets to report to the public an inflated figure of dogs that outwardly appear as rehomed when in fact they are killed in pounds; buried in shallow graves; starving, living in their own excrement and hoping to be rescued; or in concrete cells breeding hundreds and hundreds more greyhounds offshore.

Canya Cruise, Turbo Tommy and Deliver were sent undesexed to China in 2021 without the industry knowing. This occurred as a breach of GRV’s own rules for mandatory desexing upon retirement and after the GRV integrity unit was given its supposed increased powers for inspection and monitoring. They have fathered hundreds of puppies now. How was the export of these dogs discovered? By voluntary advocacy organisations like Free the Hounds. All it takes is a simple check of the department of agriculture website and a freedom-of-information application to match microchip numbers. But the industry, with all of its resources, is apparently incapable of that – the same industry that confirmed to me just last week that their investigation into illegal exports of greyhounds to China was complete and that no further dogs had been sent. I know that this is incorrect because the data is publicly available on the federal department of agriculture’s website. If I can find this and volunteers can find this, why can’t the so-called investigative compliance experts?

On 7 December 2022 Aston Gigante, a Victorian and GRV-registered greyhound, was sent directly to China undesexed. His GRV status to this day is ‘racing’. On 18 January 2023 Aston Lee, a Victorian and GRV-registered greyhound was sent directly to China undesexed. His GRV status to this day is ‘racing’. Both these male dogs are confirmed to be racing and breeding in China. Through lack of tracking and oversight Victoria is growing the illegal Chinese greyhound industry, and it is being funded by the Victorian taxpayer. We saw the public outcry with Macau, which was subsequently shut down. Victoria, due to an inability to track greyhounds and a loose system of self-regulation, is now creating an even bigger problem, and the world is paying attention.

This government did not support my calls to bring Canya Cruise, Turbo Tommy and Deliver back home. It is Australian advocacy groups who work with offshore groups to arrange the surrender of Victorian greyhounds. I am elated to report that they have just yesterday secured the safety of a 10-year-old girl who was still breeding in China. Let that sink in. My own office is also cleaning up this mess by adopting rescued greyhounds. We always have at least two fosters on the couch at the office at any given time. Frankie, Slayer, Dot and George – they all have individual stories, and their safety is only a result of volunteers.

Currently the lack of a true whole-of-life tracking system means countless puppies and dogs are missing. As I mentioned in my inaugural speech to this Parliament, I do not know how many racing greyhounds are currently in this industry. The government and the industry themselves also do not know, because nobody knows, because it is not tracked. As I said, an electronic tracking system will not be perfect, but it will provide some additional requirements for breeders to at least register the ‘industry wastage’, as they call it, or greyhound puppies that never make it to registration for training and racing. Advocates estimate, based on the number of puppies bred per year, the average number of surplus puppies per litter to be 25 per cent. That is 1622 puppies in Victoria killed in secret because they are not deemed useful or able to make money. The breaking-in process for a greyhound happens over 18 months to two years, but only those deemed good enough will actually be registered to race. Each year thousands of dogs never make it to the track because they fail to chase or simply are not fast enough.

I spoke about the first greyhound I ever had the pleasure of meeting in my inaugural speech. His name is Blue. Blue broke his leg and was lucky to be rescued and live a long good-boy life before advocating for all of his friends that are not quite as lucky, and we all miss him so much. Greyhounds are quirky, gentle and intelligent and make great couch companions. I am so proud that the community-supported rescue groups here in Victoria are larger and stronger than the community that supports their exploitation.

Because there is no cap on breeding, the industry itself knows that there is a rehoming crisis. Greyhounds who are still considered suitable and profitable are even being given away for free on Facebook as trainers make way for more and more puppies. They can currently do this without any consequence. In fact my office picked up two discarded greyhounds just last week, the trainer then offering us 25 more. Slayer, one of my office dogs, rescued at age 3, is a son of one of Victoria’s most famous and prominent stud greyhounds. Banjo Boy raced for three years and upon retirement from racing continued life as a stud dog. Sperm is routinely collected from stud dogs, referred to as ‘servicing’, in order to be inserted into females while awake or in a painful surgery that removes their uterus, services it and then stuffs it back inside their bodies. I cannot tell you the amount of puppies that Banjo Boy has fathered. It is in the thousands, because although he is more than likely deceased now, his stored frozen semen continues to father puppies, available for purchase for thousands of dollars on frozen semen websites. We are talking about just one dog here, and he is responsible for thousands of puppies in his short life.

A robust electronic tracking system must be supported to give us better data on just how extensive this crisis is. The industry’s own rehoming program, the Greyhound Adoption Program, waitlist to take dogs in has just increased from six months to nine months. GAP will euthanise greyhounds who are not deemed rehomeable, including for behavioural issues, where other rescues will take them on and pay in both time and their own money to rehabilitate them. So despite the fact that the industry rehoming program puts its own dogs to death they still have a waitlist. This means dogs wait longer with their trainers, race longer than was planned or meet a fate like Pacific Reef, Pacific Dreamer, Dark Stealth and Stealthy Flight of trainer Ian Anderson. Ian Anderson took to bludgeoning all four dogs to death with rocks and burying them in a shallow grave on his own property. To this day, despite being confirmed as dead, their status with GRV and the data reported publicly for them is ‘retired’. They are not retired; they are dead. Ian Anderson was not charged with animal cruelty but merely banned from greyhound racing in Victoria, and we know that he could continue to participate if he wanted to given the many loopholes that exist.

I would like to tell you the story of Tommy, recently rescued by the dedicated team of volunteers at Amazing Greys. Tommy was retired by his trainer and owner on 14 October 2021. Over a year later he was dumped at the Ballarat pound in a completely emaciated condition, bones protruding through his skin and covered in sores. Tommy was collected by community rescue Amazing Greys from Ballarat on 25 November 2022, and the images of him would turn the stomach of even the most committed greyhound-racing supporter. What followed were months of veterinary visits, thousands of dollars of blood and tissue testing and rehabilitation. Finally today Tommy is available for adoption and ready to start the life that he deserves. If it were not for Amazing Greys saving Tommy, he would just be another retired dog that ended up neglected, dead and untraceable in Victoria.

Victorian taxpayers deserve to know just how many dogs out there are not as lucky as Tommy. Amazing Greys currently have over 50 dogs on their waitlist. They rely on hardworking Victorians to come forward and volunteer as foster carers to save these dogs and clean up this government-funded mess. They work full time in day jobs, they have families, yet day in and day out they use their own time before work, on lunchbreaks and after work to rescue greyhounds from every single corner of Victoria, direct from trainers, from pounds and from death row.

This industry likes to report the reduction in injuries over the past few years, especially since significant government investment in tracks, particularly at Traralgon. However, to advocates the data tells a very different story. Track deaths in 2020 to 2022 remain the same. So far this year, for the same period in 2022, there has been a 43 per cent increase in serious on-track injuries. Many of these will be retired and then euthanised at vet clinics, but I cannot tell you the number, and neither can the industry, until we have proper tracking. What happens off the track is what remains a mystery to us all, and it is what happens off the track that we all want and deserve to know.

I want to make it clear that I believe one day we will look back in disbelief that we allowed this industry that exploits such vulnerable, gentle animals to ever exist; that we turned away time and time again, scandal after scandal; that we thought reviews and self-regulation could fix the inherent systemic cruelty that comes with mixing animals and gambling; and that we separated greyhounds by law under a different piece of legislation to intentionally protect them less. But today we can commit to at least some form of accountability and some form of transparency to acknowledge that the industry has an obligation to these dogs that they bring into this world to make money from, and that is to ensure they live safe, happy and healthy lives and that they do not conveniently go missing or get exported to countries where their suffering will continue. We can say here today that these dogs – that belong on a couch, not on a racetrack – deserve to be protected their entire life, not just while they are profitable. I hope that the government can commit to implementing a fully automated, digital, whole-of-life tracking scheme to make our state a leader in this space, and I look forward to support from colleagues across the whole chamber today to do what is right by our greyhounds.

Harriet SHING (Eastern Victoria – Minister for Water, Minister for Regional Development, Minister for Commonwealth Games Legacy, Minister for Equality) (10:20): In my house I have 10 dog beds, and the reason that I have 10 dog beds along with two human-sized couches that I am not any longer in a position to use is because I have had a succession of greyhounds take over my home. For many, many years now I have, in a way that I have described myself on a number of occasions, become and remained a delighted and willing human slave to the pointy faces who call my home their own.

Firstly, thank you to Ms Purcell for moving this motion today and indeed for continuing to highlight the beauty, the gentleness, the vulnerability, the idiocy and the humour of our very, very pointy-nosed friends. I also want to acknowledge the work of a range of groups who continue to work tirelessly, including through the efforts of volunteers, to allow so many greyhounds to be rehomed, to be adopted, to be fostered and to adjust to domestic life after being on the racetrack or in proximity to it. In particular I do want to acknowledge the work of Greyt Greys, Gumtree Greys, Amazing Greys and Racing 2 Rehome amongst others. It is through organisations like these that I have found myself besieged by dogs over the years and will continue no doubt to be in such a position over the coming years and indeed hopefully for the rest of my life. So in that sense, Ms Purcell, we have a lot in common.

What I want to say today and to put on the record is that government will absolutely commit to the digital tracking system that you have put to us. This is important for a number of reasons. Firstly, we have achieved a volume of success around the way in which some tracking has occurred in Victoria, and I note Ms Purcell’s reference to the New South Wales system, which whilst not perfect, to paraphrase what you have said, is indeed something. What this proposal of modifying FastTrack, the Victorian data system, will do is move from a manual processing component, which is therefore vulnerable to points of human error, through to a digitised process. It is also really important to put on the record that not only do we commit to this whole-of-life digital tracking system but, for avoidance of any doubt, it will and indeed is intended to operate from birth and not from the point of a pup being microchipped.

Animal welfare is something which I see as a personal responsibility and which this government takes really seriously. Is there more work to be done? Always. Is it important to make sure that we continue to assess the conditions in which greyhounds are trained, race, are rehomed, are adopted or are otherwise treated once their racing or indeed stud or breeding lives and usefulness come to an end? Absolutely. Do we need to make sure that we continue that work on top of the $6.5 million in funding that has been allocated to greyhound welfare programs since 2014? Absolutely. Do we need to continue to make sure that rehoming rates increase? Absolutely. Do we need to make sure that indeed ‘rehoming’ means exactly what it says? Yes, we do.

What I also want to do, though, in my contribution today, beyond identifying those people who work so tirelessly to rehome dogs and to make sure that when they come to homes like mine and take up a position on something soft and snuggly for the rest of their days and steal socks and eat vast volumes of cheese, is in fact also acknowledge that there are a number of people within the industry who do work really hard to identify areas for improvement in animal welfare and that it was in fact people from within the industry who called out some of the abhorrent practices that were taking place in the Macau Canidrome, for example, a canidrome which was world renowned for its disgraceful practices, animal welfare transgressions and cruelty to dogs before it was closed in 2018.

As a government we take the matters of animal welfare raised in this particular motion really seriously. I want to make sure that it is beyond doubt today for anybody interested in this debate that this commitment is made in good faith and is intended to be developed through a process of careful implementation to a point where it achieves its objectives – that in fact we do have an evidence base for the volume of greyhounds at any one time, where they are in their stage of life at any one time and what the processes are by which they can interface with various rehoming and fostering arrangements into the future.

It is also really important that we continue to have conversations about how animal welfare can be improved in the process of engagement with tracks, training and racing. The track at Traralgon that Ms Purcell has referred to is one that was upgraded as a J-track to include additional drainage and to modify the camber of the way in which greyhounds would race. I attended the opening of that J-track, and it is an improvement. Is it perfect? Absolutely not. Is any racing environment where we are having animals or indeed people race at pace perfect in terms of being able to remove risk? No. What does it mean, however, to partner with industry to make sure that we are recognising best practice and we are recognising commitments to better practice in the way that we go about discussing our industry here in Victoria – what it means for the economy, what it means for jobs, what it means for animal welfare and what it means for, again, the movement away from the large-scale attendances at greyhound-racing events that we have seen globally.

It used to be the case that going to the dogs was a regular Saturday night experience for many, many families. It was a social occasion. That is still the case for many people, but not nearly as many people as used to attend. It is still the case that greyhound family days at various racetracks take place and are attended by large numbers of people, but they are not the same volumes of people as used to attend. It is important to note that there are many people, as I said earlier, in the industry who are working to lean into the challenges, the uncomfortable truths and the opportunities for improvements in animal welfare and animal safety as the industry moves into a better evidence base for the work that it does. I want to continue to work with Ms Purcell, and I want to continue to work with those groups who represent the interests of greyhounds and their welfare throughout their entire lives, including as they are working within the racing industry.

I also want to put on record my enduring love for the breed and my hope that in perhaps engaging with the debate we can continue to spread the word about this magnificent species. Ms Purcell has described them as really intelligent; in my experience it has not been the case that they are. In fact one of the things that I am also really keen to explain to people is they will sleep, as has been the case with the six or so that I have had, for up to 22 hours a day. And when in fact some of my greyhounds’ intelligence has been questioned, I am only too pleased to say that they are not bothered by the minutia of everyday life or indeed deep thought. That is not to say, however, that they are not wonderful animals. They are pointy faced, they are gentle, they have velvety ears, they love things like cheese and toast and they have the most extraordinary characters and personalities. And for anybody who is thinking about adopting a greyhound or indeed having a trial, excuse the pun, in fostering a greyhound – which will invariably become a failed fostering arrangement because you keep them – I would encourage them to look at the dogs and to understand the joy that they can bring to our lives, the joy that they do bring to our lives. I do not want to sound evangelical about it, but I am. There are so many people who are, and there is a reason for that.

As this work continues, as we do commit to this whole-of-life system, moving to digital systems and platforms and making sure that we have good data and a good evidence base for where we go from here, I want to thank Ms Purcell for bringing this particular motion. I thank those people in the industry who are working really hard to, as I said, identify areas for improvement. And I also thank those people who work so tirelessly to provide many, many beds in their own homes for greyhounds to live and to enjoy the very best that life can and indeed should offer to our canine friends.

Melina BATH (Eastern Victoria) (10:30): I am pleased to rise this morning to speak on motion 41 in the name of the Animal Justice Party. I would like in my contribution to have the chance to discuss some of the various issues within the racing industry, the welfare of greyhounds and the importance of greyhound racing in rural and regional Victoria – and in particular in Eastern Victoria Region, in my patch – but also to unpack some of the parts of that motion and to apprise the house about some misinformation or some inaccuracies in that motion. Without reading it entirely I just want to go to a couple of the parts of it. The first part reads:

That this house:

(1) notes that:

(a) there is no digital whole-of-life tracking scheme for Victorian racing greyhounds;

(b) the manual tracking of … greyhounds increases the risk of greyhounds going missing, being illegally exported or illegally euthanised, and makes it more difficult to hold … responsible –

entities –

to account …

This suggests, though, that the current system – Greyhound Racing Victoria’s greyhound microchip scanning and tracking – is ineffective, which is incorrect. GRV already scans at multiple stages. However, the key benefit of a fully integrated digital system is that it will certainly increase the frequency and range of opportunities for participants – people – to check in digitally with their greyhounds to demonstrate compliance with the code of practice, and I want to go into that in more detail, and to upload that real-time data. Real-time integration is also important. It just reduces that time burden of the manual follow-up when greyhounds become inactive and finish their sporting life.

The second part that I want to clarify is in terms of part (2):

calls on the government to implement a digital system to improve greyhound traceability through an automated … system …

I know that Ms Purcell did relay in her contribution that New South Wales implemented a traceability system. That has actually been brought in under a Liberal and National coalition government to improve the tracking and tracing system, so I compliment the current government for having the oversight to have a far more integrated system and, importantly, whole-of-life tracking. But at the end of the day, this is about animal welfare, so I appreciate the work that that government has done. I understand very much that GRV, Greyhound Racing Victoria, the statutory body that has a variety of functions, is also working on this now, and I think it has had discussions with the government, as it should, and the Minister for Racing, as it should. This is work that has been done in a different jurisdiction but also is being done by industry, which is much appreciated by all. I think the mover of this motion has at least identified that, which is good.

There is one point in part (2) that talks about streamlining transparency. It feels to me a bit more like a catchphrase than an actuality. It sounds good, but in reality what does it mean? It says:

streamlines transparency and industry processes by providing one system for all industry transactions …

This is not entirely accurate, because indeed the intent of this motion is about a new e-tracking system, but there are current systems. There are FastTrack and MyFastTrack that GRV already have in operation. How is this integrated into a digital platform? It is not like there is not anything occurring at the moment, but how can a system actually be implemented through an e-system?

The other point I would like to raise is that this motion and the new system will provide accurate euthanasia data for all greyhounds, including those in the industry rehoming program, the Greyhound Adoption Program (GAP). I have been reading the greyhound welfare fact base – this is from GRV, the statutory body required to oversee the industry – and there are some significant stats that are on the table. The data is already there. It is really pleasing to see that since 2018–19 in real terms there has been a 50 per cent reduction in euthanasia and the incidence of euthanasia. In real terms, in 2018–19 there were 769 reported incidents and in 2021–22 – the last financial year – only 375, which includes at race meetings and also away from the track. As I said, I think it is important that there is transparency in the industry, but also it is really pleasing to see that those numbers have come down substantially.

In terms of some other points I would like to make about GRV, the regulatory body that operates the industry but also promotes it – it has a dual function – there are some important things that have been introduced since live baiting ended in 2015. I know the mover of the motion, Ms Purcell, talked about the scandal, and it certainly was that. In the end shocking incidents have brought about better outcomes for animals, which is of primary importance for all of us, but also the code of practice for keeping greyhounds has been really refined and improved for the benefit of all.

It is good to see that under the rules, under the code, greyhounds cannot be euthanised because they are too slow, and we have seen that in the facts and data. We can also see that rehoming – a really important part of the industry and the work that has been done by the industry – figures, by contrast, have gone up. Nearly 3000 greyhounds were rehomed in the last financial year at the end of their, we will call it, working lives, and not only by the GAP. My friend and colleague the member for Gippsland South has got Maisy, a GAP pet. I can confirm he often speaks about Maisy sleeping about 23 hours a day. There is a beloved Facebook accompaniment that we often see as well. The serious fact is that GAP and other rehoming organisations do a tremendous job to ensure that former racing greyhounds are rehomed into loving homes.

I also want to give a very brief shout-out to other rehoming agencies. We have a pet who has come through the Keysborough animal shelter. There are all of those people that take in animals and that acclimatise them and rehabilitate them where required and then they go out to the people who adopt them. These are important issues because we want the best outcomes for our animals, our pets and recycled pets as well.

The other point I would like to make is that the code provides that a registered person must not surrender a greyhound to a municipal council pound – they are not allowed to. If that does happen, there are charges, there are penalties. If there is unlawful euthanasia, the full force of the law does need to come down, and I appreciate that. That is a really important one. Like all things, people need to operate within the law, and that regulatory body is a really important one.

I am running out of time; I had much more to say. What I do want to do is give a shout-out to my former father-in-law, the most lovely person, Arthur O’Connor, who has lived in Jacana all his life. He was an owner and a trainer of greyhounds. When they finished working, the backyard just had to grow and grow. They became his pets. He was one of those people, like many in the industry, who was devoted to both the welfare of their animals and also their wellbeing at the end of their working lives.

Katherine COPSEY (Southern Metropolitan) (10:40): I want first to thank Ms Purcell for her tireless personal and political activism for animal rights and welfare and for bringing this motion today. Victoria is one of the only jurisdictions in the world where greyhound racing is still allowed; let us be up-front about that from the beginning. Propped up by the powerful gambling lobby and encouraged by both major parties, the cruelty inflicted on greyhounds from birth to death for the sake of entertainment is an undeniable source of shame for this state. Like all animals, greyhounds deserve our care and our respect, and this is something the Greens believe wholeheartedly. Multiple studies across Australia and Victoria over the past few decades have all concluded that most people want to see the cruel racing of greyhounds banned everywhere, but we still have the biggest greyhound-racing industry in the world in our state.

Greyhound racing is inherently abusive and a practice founded on significant animal cruelty. Racing greyhounds frequently suffer painful injuries, including broken limbs, head trauma and cardiac arrest, and far too many die on the tracks or as a result of track injuries. And that is just while they are racing. Once a greyhound is no longer winning or paying its way in races, its future is very bleak. A natural life span for a greyhound is 12 to 14 years, but very few racing dogs actually live this long. Some may go on to be used for breeding, and even that will be short lived.

Now, while there are some measures that are being taken to ensure a better life for greyhounds after racing, they do not go nearly far enough. Despite government and industry claims, the Greyhound Adoption Program is not the answer to the inherent problems of wastage, injury and cruelty in the greyhound-racing industry. Data from the annual reporting of this Labor government funded adoption program shows that community rescue groups actually rehome more ex-racing greyhounds than this program does.

Intertwined with this animal cruelty is the pervasive, widespread and universally harmful gambling industry that works hand in hand with practices like greyhound racing. This Labor government has failed to introduce any significant gambling harm minimisation measures in Victoria, leaving more and more vulnerable members of our community at risk from financial, social and legal issues arising from gambling harm.

Ending greyhound racing will make dogs’ lives better but it will make our lives better too. Phasing out greyhound racing is the longstanding Victorian Greens policy and one I am proud to continue advocating for. The only way – let us be clear – to end the cruelty and suffering of greyhounds at the hands of this industry is to end greyhound racing in Victoria and across Australia once and for all. The Greens are calling on the Victorian government to amend the Racing Act 1958 to ban greyhound racing as soon as possible, to create a welfare plan for the future of greyhounds currently housed in the industry and to implement a just plan for trainers and other workers in the industry to transition to other useful employment.

In regard to this motion, the Greens acknowledge that current record keeping within Greyhound Racing Victoria is not conducive to data accuracy and that there is a significant need to push for increased transparency, compliance and monitoring of the relevant rules and regulations. An electronic tracking system will go some way to tracking down those dogs that are going missing and ending up in unknown places, suffering further harm outside the industry. So an electronic tracking system will be a welcome reform to increase transparency and promote better animal welfare. Such a system will represent a healthy first step on the path to ending greyhound racing in Victoria entirely. But we need to remember that this cruelty is an issue that will only be resolved once it is done and dusted forever. The Greens are very pleased to support this motion. However, it will not put an end to the inherent cruelty of the industry. What this state ultimately needs is a ban on greyhound racing as soon as possible. Greyhounds belong on our couches, not on the tracks. This practice has no place in our state.

Michael GALEA (South-Eastern Metropolitan) (10:44): I also rise to speak on the motion as proposed by Ms Purcell, that being to establish whole-of-life digital tracking of greyhounds. I would like to thank Ms Purcell for bringing this debate before the house, allowing me to speak on animal welfare generally as well as the issue of greyhound welfare specifically, and I would also like to start by acknowledging Ms Purcell’s heartfelt commitment to and advocacy for greyhound wellbeing. I also note her previous contributions on this matter, including her notices regarding the deaths of greyhounds on racetracks and regarding Aston Lee and Aston Gigante and her statement on Amazing Greys kennel.

Victoria is home to many dog owners and dog lovers, and I can safely assume that there are many of us in this chamber who would count themselves amongst that number. Most will have seen beloved Frankie walking down the halls of the annexe on at least one or several occasions, and I know we all love stopping to have a pat with him as well. Many Victorians rightly consider the welfare of animals, particularly dogs, to be very important. The Andrews Labor government, I am very glad to say, has a strong record of prioritising and improving animal welfare. This commitment is ongoing and it continues into this, the 60th Parliament.

I would also like to take this opportunity to highlight the decision of the Andrews Labor government in 2018 to approve the Code of Practice for the Keeping of Racing Greyhounds in public. The code followed 1300 public submissions and the urging as well of Victoria’s chief veterinary officer. A notable and welcome reform was that non-racing greyhounds no longer required muzzles in public. I can remember not so long ago when every time you would see a greyhound in the street – or wherever you were, at the local shops or in a park – you would see them muzzled. The evidence was clear that this blanket approach was not working. It was not beneficial. It did not improve or produce positive results, and that is why the Andrews Labor government moved to change the rules around muzzling, resulting in better animal welfare for all greyhounds.

Of course in any debate about the welfare of greyhounds it would be impossible to have earnest discourse on the matter without addressing racing, specifically the regrettable and indeed ongoing instances of greyhound-racing fatalities. Racing greyhound deaths are distressing. They are also distressing for the owners and trainers, in many ways no different from the loss of a family pet. The motion, I note, calls for the government to provide accurate euthanasia data for all greyhounds including those in the industry rehoming program, the Greyhound Adoption Program. It is an unfortunate fact that most incidences of greyhound euthanasia are the result of racetrack injuries. Greyhound Racing Victoria has introduced measures to reduce racing fatalities. The greyhound recovery initiative provides financial assistance to owners of injured dogs to help pay the costs of veterinary care for the injured dogs. This financial assistance provides for better treatment and encourages owners to undertake veterinary care procedures with the decision focused on the wellbeing of the greyhound rather than any financial implications. Addressing injuries and providing assistance to owners so that animal welfare and treatment are the overwhelming focus is one aspect of reducing fatalities and promoting better animal welfare.

Another aspect that Greyhound Racing Victoria has acted on is track safety, collaborating with experts to design tracks to make them as safe as possible and reduce the number of injuries both fatal and debilitating or otherwise injurious to the dogs. Greyhound Racing Victoria is continuing to investigate ways it can continue to improve conditions at racetracks and how to innovate to ensure that the safest possible racing surfaces and conditions are in place. This crucial implementation of minimum standards and pre-race inspections ensures that race meetings will not proceed without the safety of the track being determined as satisfactory by a qualified expert.

Greyhound-racing fatalities in the year 2021–22 were the same as in 2020–21, which was 48 fatalities in both of those years, which is far too many. However, I do note that since 2018–19 racing fatalities have fallen by over 40 per cent. There is still, as always, more work to be done. Similarly, the rates of injury also show a marked decrease, with 32.4 injuries per 1000 dogs in 2021–22, which is a reduction from 34.5 per 1000 in 2020–21. Overall, since 2015–16 the rates of injury have dropped by almost 20 per cent. The statistics on injury rates and fatalities show that improvements are still needed to get those rates down even lower. Those same statistics also, though, clearly show that under the Andrews Labor government animal welfare has improved considerably at our greyhound racetracks.

The motion’s stated outcome from the implementation of a whole-of-life digital tracking scheme is that it will improve Victorian greyhound welfare and meet community expectations. With that in mind, I would like to discuss the prioritisation and the commitment of the Andrews Labor government. Since we formed government in 2014 there has been enormous progress towards improving animal welfare. This government has invested $6.5 million towards improving animal welfare and boosting the integrity of the greyhound-racing sector. As I mentioned at the start of my contribution, the implementation of the Code of Practice for the Keeping of Racing Greyhounds has improved the welfare of racing greyhounds at all stages of their lives; $1 million was invested in supporting the implementation of this code.

The Victorian government also implemented various changes to the industry, particularly the governance structures and regulatory oversight. This followed a comprehensive consultation, including inquiries undertaken by the racing integrity commissioner and the chief veterinary officer. Two changes that resulted from these inquiries were the strengthening of inquiry powers held by the racing integrity commissioner, which worked in conjunction with the establishment of the Victorian Racing Integrity Board and the Victorian Racing Tribunal. Furthermore, structural changes alongside considered investment ensured that Greyhound Racing Victoria was made accountable for improving the welfare of racing greyhounds in Victoria, as is very appropriate.

I will also note the commitment of this government to rehoming greyhounds. Under this government there has been a 72 per cent increase in the annual number of greyhounds rehomed since 2015, which is something to celebrate. In part because of this significant improvement in rehoming rates, alongside the measures I have previously referred to, the number of greyhounds euthanised has fallen by 89 per cent.

Before the previous election, the Andrews Labor government also announced the continuation of the $72 million Victorian Racing Industry Fund. The VRIF supports improvements to racing and training infrastructure to make Victorian racing safer for all participants, including, most importantly, the animals. The VRIF has committed $6.5 million since 2014 to projects directly supporting integrity and animal welfare in the greyhound-racing sector. The government will continue to back strong animal welfare and robust integrity assurance in Victorian greyhound racing.

Moving directly to the main aspect of the motion, the whole-of-life digital tracking of greyhounds means pre racing, during a greyhound’s racing career and into retirement. Such an expansion will provide Greyhound Racing Victoria with a crucial additional tool in its ongoing effort to enhance and preserve the welfare of our greyhounds. It further enables them to hold anyone acting wrongly to account. Currently Greyhound Racing Victoria has a tracking system implemented. The system uses the FastTrack system. Digital tracking removes the need for manual inputting of data. Tracking occurs at specific mandatory stages and interactions. These vary from microchipping and vaccinations to naming, changes in ownership and participation in races, to give several prominent examples.

The greyhound-racing integrity unit has a proactive follow-up procedure that deals with instances when a dog is deemed to be inactive for a period or when they trigger certain risk criteria. These systems are currently entered manually. Digitisation of these systems will allow for faster, more accurate and more effective operation of tracking greyhounds. I do also note that Greyhound Racing Victoria is fully supportive of adopting a digital tracking system. As a regulator, this measure would be consistent with its strong and unequivocal commitment to putting animal welfare at the centre of everything that it does.

I do also want to address that if it is suggested that large numbers of dogs are going missing or being illegally exported or killed, it is important to remember that digital tracking will enhance and not replace GRV’s existing tracking system. There is no evidence of widespread missing greyhounds in the Victorian industry, and this can be seen from the number of greyhounds bred, racing, legally exported to other racing jurisdictions and rehomed. If anybody, though, does have evidence of greyhounds being dealt with in contravention of the rules of racing – the code of practice or the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals Act 1986 – they should absolutely immediately report what they do know to GRV’s greyhound-racing integrity unit.

There is much around improving animal welfare that Victorians can be proud of. Under the Andrews Labor government significant progress has been made. That being said, I fully acknowledge that while significant work in greyhound welfare has been done, there is more that still can be done and must be done, and we will do it.

Rachel PAYNE (South-Eastern Metropolitan) (10:55): I rise today in support of this motion to implement an electronic whole-of-life tracking system for Victoria’s racing greyhounds. I congratulate Ms Purcell on not only her passionate advocacy in this space but providing a voice for these beautiful animals. Since there is currently no whole-of-life tracking scheme for racing greyhounds, this system, if implemented sufficiently, will be a welcome Australian first. I applaud Minister Shing’s contribution earlier and the government’s commitment in principle to supporting this motion.

Greyhounds are gentle, docile couch potatoes. They have increased in popularity so dramatically that all of us would struggle to head out in our electorates without seeing multiple constituents walking their rescued friends. Yet greyhounds in the racing industry are not protected or afforded the same level of care or oversight as the dogs we deem companions. The New South Wales government funded and commenced implementation of eTrac in 2022, which aims to improve the ability of the monitoring body, the Greyhound Welfare and Integrity Commission, to protect the welfare and integrity of the New South Wales greyhound-racing industry. There are still flaws in this system that fail greyhounds, and the Victorian government needs to ensure that it works with advocacy stakeholders to close those loopholes.

In Victoria there is no cap on the number of greyhounds that can be bred into the racing industry. Current industry figures from 2021–22 show that participants are breeding almost four times as many dogs as the industry is rehoming. This is creating a welfare crisis, with the industry’s own greyhound adoption program reporting a waiting list of nine months and community rescue groups reporting a waiting list of over six months. This has resulted in an increase in extreme cruelty, the killing of dogs and more recently illegal export to underground Chinese racing rings.

The greyhound industry in Victoria is partially funded through point-of-consumption tax charged by the Victorian government to wagering operators. Under the current POCT set-up, operators are liable for 10 per cent of net wagering revenue derived from customers located in Victoria. The government distributes 35 per cent of revenue collected under the POCT to the state’s racing industry each year, including the greyhound industry. The total amount of POCT given to Racing Victoria in the 2020–21 financial year was $25 million, of which $6.2 million was passed on to Greyhound Racing Victoria. Taxpayers deserve transparency from an industry they, through the government, so heavily support. Where an industry is supported to such an extent by the government, it is prudent that transparency, compliance and monitoring of the relevant rules and regulations go along with that.

As the popularity of greyhounds as pets increases, the welfare of greyhounds within the industry has been a growing community issue, and it makes perfect sense that we address this. Due to a lack of any electronic tracking system, there are currently significant data gaps, including on breeding, off-track injury, death and euthanasia. Notably, the number of young adult greyhounds in Victoria is unknown. This motion calls for the government to fund and implement a digital system to improve greyhound traceability through an automated whole-of-life tracking system modelled on the New South Wales government’s eTrac system, which requires participants to physically check in greyhounds via scanning technology periodically at particular milestones, such as birth, registration, vetting, races and retirement. An e-tracking system is the first step towards bringing Victoria into line with best practice, providing further transparency of greyhound welfare and taking action on illegal behaviour. I support this motion for better welfare outcomes for greyhounds, who are no different to any other dogs deemed companions.

Ryan BATCHELOR (Southern Metropolitan) (11:00): I am very pleased to speak on the motion that Ms Purcell has moved. I will not traverse some of the other material that my colleagues have mentioned in relation to what the government is doing; I think that is on the record. I am pleased, from Minister Shing’s comments, about our support for the digital tracking system.

I want to spend a couple of minutes as a fellow greyhound evangelist talking about how wonderful they are as pets. We were very privileged I think to have a pet greyhound, retired – ‘failed’ racing greyhound is probably the appropriate term.

A member interjected.

Ryan BATCHELOR: Yes, very much so – who joined us in around 2009 and was with us for a decade. We had to put her down just before the pandemic, in late 2019, because her back legs had given out. She was an adorable, quirky dog. As someone who has always had a bit of a nervous relationship with dogs, having been at the receiving end of a nasty bite when I was out campaigning as a child in Melbourne’s northern suburbs, it was a really nice way for me to get back into being comfortable around dogs again. She served as a constant companion in our household, particularly to my partner when I was away working in Canberra. Daisy was always there.

I just want to reflect a little bit on the quirks of their personalities and the comfort that they bring with a couple of stories, one of which is of when we were introducing her to my mum’s backyard. She has got a nice quarter-acre block down in the bayside area, where Daisy liked to run around a bit. There was an unfortunate neighbourhood cat that liked to keep residence in Mum’s otherwise quiet backyard, so when our dog went down and started sniffing around, the two of them got into a little bit of a racing match. Fortunately the cat escaped and survived, and Daisy ended up showing the signs of a limp that had ended her racing career. She was always a very good patroller for other animals that used to occupy our backyard and served a very important role in making sure the possums stayed out of our veggie patch over the course of our time.

She was also lovely around our kids. The other point I want to make is that for people who are interested in pets that become part of a family very easily and are soft and gentle, the greyhound is a wonderful addition to your family. Mr Galea mentioned the sort of striking symbolism of the muzzle that certainly was part of our childhood perceptions of what greyhounds were like, but once we got one, that quickly evaporated. As we had kids and they were added to our household, every night Daisy our greyhound would walk around the house and count everyone to make sure that everyone was there so that before she retired for the evening she knew that all members of her pack were being looked after, even as they increased over time. The only problem we really encountered with her was when she went up the stairs and could not get back down again, because she was pretty hopeless at that sort of thing, and it did not get easier as she became more unsteady on her feet and her eyes started going.

The message I want to give in this brief contribution is that they are amazing pets. We need to look after them. The government is taking action. I think this tracking system will be an incredibly important part of that. I commend Ms Purcell for her advocacy on the issue and also echo the words of Minister Shing. I certainly know that we have bonded over our shared love of these dogs over the years. If you want a great dog, get a greyhound.

Evan MULHOLLAND (Northern Metropolitan) (11:04): I would like to acknowledge the great contributions of some of my colleagues – Ms Purcell, Mr Galea, Mr Batchelor and Minister Shing. I do not own a greyhound, but I do empathise with a lot of you. I own perhaps a cousin of the greyhound in a little dachshund called Gavroche, named from my favourite musical, Les Mis. We adopted Gavroche from the RSPCA as a rescue. He seems to have nine lives. He has got a very cheeky personality and gets into everything, but he is a dachshund who has been hit by a car; he has eaten a tub of Mentos, which are poisonous for dogs; and he is now battling through intervertebral disc disease, which a lot of dogs go through, but he is on the mend. Dachshunds are similar to greyhounds; I think they are similar in nature. They just want to sit on your lap and watch TV and sleep and just be around the family, and having a very young family I can say they are very good with kids, like greyhounds are. I think improving traceability across the lives of greyhounds is a really good measure and a good way to improve animal welfare standards, so I think that does go in the right direction. I will note, like other colleagues have, that this is something that is being implemented in New South Wales, by the Perrottet government, as well. I think it is something that we can really all agree on, and it is great to see some action on this there.

Much of this motion is supported by the industry and is consistent with planning by the peak industry body, Greyhound Racing Victoria. The greyhound industry is a great industry here in Victoria that makes an outstanding economic contribution to our suburbs and to the regions. I will note Minister Shing’s contribution earlier and her suggestion that greyhound racing is not well attended. I would invite Minister Shing to come with me to the Meadows greyhound track in Broadmeadows, an area which I am proud to represent, and perhaps Minister Shing can bring along the member for Broadmeadows, Kathleen Matthews-Ward, in the other place, so she can see the thousands of smiling Victorians who come out to visit the greyhounds. They are their great community events. I would be delighted to show the minister around there.

I have the privilege of attending the Phoenix, which is the biggest greyhound race at the Meadows every year, but it is also the richest greyhound race in the world – right in the northern suburbs, right in the Northern Metropolitan Region. I would invite Ms Watt to come with me as well, with Minister Shing, so we can see how well attended the Meadows is. They also have really great family days, which is really great – they have jumping castles, they have kids face painting activities – where people come along. Particularly in Broadmeadows, a lot of our new migrant communities come along to the greyhounds because it really is a family festival fete-like event where everyone can get involved.

It is important to point out that while we support the principles of this motion, as mentioned by some earlier speakers – and I will note the contribution by Ms Bath on this motion – it does make some statements which I think are incorrect, flawed or exaggerated. This motion suggests that the current greyhound microchip and scanning process is ineffective. I think the system is effective, and greyhounds are at multiple stages across their lives. But it is right to say the recording of these instances currently is time consuming and could be improved, so there is, I acknowledge, work to do. A fully integrated digital system would greatly improve the frequency and range of opportunities for participants to check in digitally with their greyhounds to ensure compliance and demonstrate welfare standards. This data could be uploaded in real time and reduce the need for unnecessary manual follow-ups due to better data integration, particularly for lovingly homed retired greyhounds like the ones we have heard about today.

Sheena WATT (Northern Metropolitan) (11:09): Thank you very much for the opportunity today to continue the debate on behalf of this side and to speak on Ms Purcell’s motion calling on this government to implement a digital system to improve greyhound traceability through an automated whole-of-life tracking system. There have been a number of contributions made already today, but I would like to reinforce and reiterate that the government is happy to support the development of a whole-of-life digital tracking system in Victoria’s greyhound-racing industry.

There are remarkable statistics about what the industry does. It does contribute to the Victorian economy, including in the number of jobs – almost 5000 in fact. It is important for the government to continue to support Greyhound Racing Victoria (GRV), the racing integrity commissioner and the chief veterinary officer to constantly improve and monitor welfare standards throughout the industry to protect greyhounds at all stages of their life cycle, and truly we are doing all of that. Great progress has been made as the government looks to improve animal welfare in the racing industry, particularly greyhound racing. I would like to say that this in fact is a continued focus and priority for the Andrews Labor government.

The number of racing greyhounds bred in Victoria was cut by more than half following the racing integrity commissioner’s and chief veterinary officer’s inquiries. There have been incremental increases in breeding numbers since then, but the number of greyhounds bred for racing in 2021–22 was still 20 per cent below the numbers before the intervention of the industry back in 2016. It is also important to note that more than 20 per cent of greyhound pups bred in Victoria are exported to other jurisdictions, including interstate and New Zealand internationally.

Beyond this there are structural changes and meaningful investments that our government has made in Greyhound Racing Victoria, and they are fully accountable for improving the welfare of racing greyhounds in this state. We are seeing those tangible outcomes. Since 2015 the number of Victorian racing greyhounds being rehomed annually has increased by 72 per cent, and in that time the number of racing greyhounds euthanised has fallen by 89 per cent.

There is a point that I would like to make, which is that Greyhound Racing Victoria already has a tracking system in place using its existing software system, FastTrack, and digital tracking would integrate microchip scanning and remove the need for details to be entered manually.

I know that many people in this place have had lots to say when it comes to their love and affection for greyhounds and greyhound racing, noting of course the comments made about the thriving industry of greyhound racing in the Northern Metropolitan Region by my colleague in this place Mr Mulholland; thank you for that. Further south from the Meadows is a great community of those that support the rehoming of greyhounds. Specifically I would like to say that right around the corner from my electorate office there is a great number of greyhounds. The people of Brunswick absolutely love greyhounds, not so much the racing as is loved a little bit further up in the seat of Broadmeadows. But I only have anecdotes to go off. I do not have a greyhound to love and give great affection to like some of my colleagues in here. I understand Ms Shing spoke at great length about her dear love of and devotion to greyhounds. I will say that the Greyhound Adoption Program has been an almighty success, and I would like to thank the good people of the inner north, not just in Brunswick but right across the inner north, for the support and the love they give to retired greyhounds.

I have many more things to say, There is more to say about the actual greyhound industry, and I will take a moment, if I can, to speak more to the greyhound industry in our state. There is the Victorian Racing Industry Fund, and it has made and supports improvements to racing and training infrastructure to make Victorian racing safer for all participants. This includes, importantly, the animals. As the regulator of greyhound racing in our state, Greyhound Racing Victoria is fully supportive of adopting a digital tracking system, and this is absolutely and unequivocally committed to through their centring of animal welfare in all that they do. The results of this commitment are very much clear.

There is an extraordinary commitment made through Greyhound Racing Victoria’s Greyhound Adoption Program, which I understand rehomes around 1000 greyhounds each year and works in partnership with industry participants and rehoming agencies, providing a very, very good opportunity for greyhounds to find a life after racing. This is for retired but also non-racing greyhounds. It is important to know that not every greyhound becomes a racer. Not every single one of them is seen on the track, and we do need options for life after the considerations of the racing industry for a great number of greyhounds.

There is of a lot of work that is being done by GRV to implement the rules of racing that also prohibit the euthanasia of any greyhound on the basis that it cannot be rehomed. This is really huge progress and something that I think we should be mighty proud of. It is absolutely a key cornerstone for ensuring the welfare of greyhounds in the racing industry. The results of all of these efforts and programs and initiatives and this goodwill are very clear. There has been a massive reduction in the total number of dogs euthanised, from nearly 3500 to 372. That 3500 was in 2015, and it was right down to 372 in the financial year 2021–22. It is most unfortunate and never a good thing to hear that greyhounds have been euthanised, but some euthanisings relate to other conditions and other health conditions, just like any other pet. Some, sadly, are for temperamental reasons, where the dog is not safe or there is an injury or where it is just the humane and right thing to do and it is in the best interests of the dog. There are reviews that are conducted by Greyhound Racing Victoria when euthanisings happen to really ensure that if there is euthanasia or the fatality of a greyhound in our state, the owners have not been in breach or violation or infringement of the rules of racing, the code of conduct for the keeping of racing greyhounds or the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals Act 1986. Greyhound Racing Victoria has demonstrated that it is absolutely committed to detecting and robustly prosecuting any breaches of animal welfare rules or legislation as it applies.

With the last little moment of time that I do have, I would like to take a moment to recognise member for Northern Victoria Ms Purcell for her continued advocacy, passion and drive in animal welfare. One day I will, I hope, get up and speak with the enormous passion with which you speak. The people of Northern Victoria truly are well served by your ideals and your enthusiasm for this work. You are following in the footsteps of a pretty extraordinary predecessor, Mr Andy Meddick. I will take a moment to acknowledge his leadership, which led to us being in this place continuing to debate animal welfare time and time again. Could you pass on my best wishes to the folks of the Animal Justice Party and thank them for their profound and extraordinary leadership on behalf of our racing community.

On behalf of my mum and some friends, I would like to just acknowledge a place that was fairly special to me a number of years ago, the Dapto dogs. A big credit to the folks involved in the greyhound-racing industry for being bold and brave enough to take some big steps in reform.

Nicholas McGOWAN (North-Eastern Metropolitan) (11:19): It is with some pleasure, I think I would describe it as, that I stand to support the motion before the chamber today – indeed to support the intent most importantly. I was fortunate not too long ago to spend almost a couple of years living in New South Wales, so these issues are not new to me in any way. In fact I saw the beginning of I suppose what you would call the reforms introduced by the Baird government. The Liberal government there took somewhat extraordinary measures at that time – in fact they took the measure of completely banning the sport. Obviously there was some feedback from the community and there was certainly some backlash, I think it would be accurate to say, in respect to the industry itself. I am pleased to observe that here in Victoria we continue to have cooperative coexistence of the public, dog lovers and the industry. I see that this motion is a step towards not only continually strengthening the oversight of the industry but also including them and making them responsible for the animals they love, just like we as humans love our own pets at home.

It is interesting; I was just recently looking in respect to New South Wales, and sadly, last winter, from my reading, was perhaps the worst they have now recorded in respect to animals that have suffered catastrophic and major injuries. That is a concerning trend. The only silver lining I took from that report was the fact that we are now reporting it, because previously it was not reported at all and there was very little transparency. The fact that this motion seeks to remedy that is a very positive sign. Between July and September 2022 some 19 dogs died in New South Wales; this is from the Greyhound Welfare and Integrity Commission report. Again, they have become not only industry leaders in respect to the sport, if we can describe it as such, but they have actually become world leaders. It would be a very welcome development here in Victoria if we did likewise.

It was also interesting for me to read recently that they had a summit – one of the first of its kind that I am aware of in this country – on race injury reduction. That was held only last month, I think it was, at the end of February, in Bathurst. That brought everyone together – the industry, the owners, the public, interested groups in respect to animal welfare – with a view to continuing to explore how they might best not only protect the animals of course but also provide for their welfare in the long term. It has been much talked about today, so I do not intend to go over this ground, but being able to track the animals from birth to death is critical because it also provides much-needed accountability for and scrutiny of their welfare. I understand that there are systems in place, but New South Wales with eTrac has successfully implemented a world-first, best practice digital system of tracking these animals. That is critical.

It is important to note, as much as we can get carried away with the good sentiments and the stories we all share with each other, that as well intended as the motion is, if we are not prepared to spend money to give effect to it, then it is of little value. So the message I have today for the government and the crossbench and my own colleagues is unless we are prepared to put our money where our mouth is, the words simply do not have the actions that they require. In New South Wales this is absolutely true. You need to look at upgrading tracks, you need to look at investing in the system. From memory, the New South Wales government spent in the order of $4 million to develop a tracking system. These are serious investments and you need that money. That money needs to come online soon, and sooner rather than later, because the welfare of animals is at risk.

In particular not only is money and upgrading the tracks the issue, but also then there are things that do not cost money. One of the things that stands out to me, particularly with this sport, is wet tracks. There has been lots of talk in the industry about the injuries occurring when there are wet tracks. We need to have serious debate in this state around the circumstances which are safe for the animals to race in, and when they are not safe we need to seriously consider whether it is appropriate to continue with races at the time.

I am excited to think that we can all work together in this space, that we can seek to have an outcome that preserves those who are interested and invested in this industry – invested not only in a monetary sense but more importantly in a welfare sense and with a love of animals and sport. There is little love, I put it to you, in any sport if that love equals the death of animals. So the closer we can get to striking that very delicate balance and protecting the animals to the absolute extent possible, I would welcome that, and I welcome the motion and congratulate all those involved.

Georgie PURCELL (Northern Victoria) (11:25): I want to thank my colleagues Ms Shing, Ms Copsey, Ms Bath, Mr Galea, Ms Payne, Mr Batchelor, Mr Mulholland, Ms Watt and Mr McGowan – I hope I did not forget anyone – for all being in agreement and for a commitment today in support of this motion to implement true whole-of-life tracking of greyhounds in Victoria. I want to particularly thank Ms Copsey and the Greens for their strong support and commitment on this issue as a whole and their knowledge and position on it and also their awareness raising for greyhounds and advocacy and rescue groups. I particularly loved hearing about Ms Shing’s dedication and lack of couch space, which is something that I can absolutely relate to. I also have a dachshund, like Mr Mulholland has – in fact I have two – and two Cavaliers, so I have no room on my couch for a greyhound, but I hope that I will be able to one day. There are also four cats on that couch.

I really want to thank the government for their commitment today and acknowledge that this is the first time in this place that it has been acknowledged that the system is not working, which I think is a really important step in order to move forward. I think this industry is fraught with many holes and many problems, but we cannot solve those unless we work together to stop these dogs suffering. I commend the government for supporting this improvement and appreciate that the commitment is genuine today, which is very clear, and is aimed at achieving true whole-of-life tracking that works.

Reform like this is great, and having that commitment from the government, but I think it is really important to note that alongside the industry, which has been acknowledged here, we will also need input from expert stakeholders. They include groups like the Coalition for the Protection of Greyhounds, Free the Hounds, Amazing Greys and Gumtree Greys. They are the people that are dealing with the problems in this industry and are not involved in the industry, and they have a unique perspective to share that will help shape this system, close the loopholes and ensure monitoring and compliance no longer fall short of community expectations.

We spoke a little bit today about the New South Wales system and the implementation of that, which is still being rolled out. I think in order to have world’s best practice, or at least nation-leading practice, we need to learn from the framework that they have implemented. While I thank the government for their commitment today, I just want to touch on four areas that I believe we need to focus on as we move forward in the implementation of this system.

The first one relates to puppies. I appreciate Ms Shing’s acknowledgement in the debate and putting it on the record that this implementation and this commitment will include puppies from the moment they are born, which is so important – not the moment that they are microchipped and not the moment they are registered to be part of the industry – because right now that is not the case and it means that unraced and unregistered greyhounds are still at risk of disappearing. We will need mandatory inspections of breeders’ facilities, just like we have under Victoria’s puppy farm legislation, so that this data can be crosschecked with puppies that are born for the industry.

We need to remember greyhounds are exported interstate or overseas. The minute a greyhound is recorded as ‘rehomed interstate’ and crosses a border data will no longer be updated in the system, and we need to change that. A trainer recently told my office that they send dogs to Tasmania, where they are not trackable. Victoria currently has no ability to track these dogs, and this system will not fix that issue without the cooperation of all other states and territories. This government needs to advocate for the development and implementation of this system elsewhere.

Private rehoming – greyhounds are also at risk of retirement when industry participants can rehome them privately. At this point in New South Wales the greyhound is removed from the racing register, and there is no oversight of their whereabouts or welfare. Without the definition of ‘greyhound’ being revised to include ‘all greyhounds which are or have ever been connected to greyhound racing’ there can be no whole-of-life tracking.

Lastly, if pounds across Victoria are not equipped to collect breed data and scan greyhounds, they will continue to be lost and euthanised with the status of ‘retired’, as is the current practice.

In summary, in my last 25 seconds I just want to finish this debate by thanking the government, thanking my colleagues in this chamber today, but most importantly thanking every single greyhound that has survived this industry and has shown great resilience, trust and affection when they have finally been rescued. I will not stop at this; this is just the beginning. At the end of the day, as I said, I believe this industry has no place in Victoria.

Motion agreed to.