Thursday, 14 August 2025

Questions without notice and ministers statements

Greyhound racing

Georgie PURCELL, Lizzie BLANDTHORN
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Greyhound racing

Georgie PURCELL (Northern Victoria) (12:04): (1006) My question is for the Minister for Racing in the other place. Over the weekend Tasmania announced they will stop subsidising greyhound racing, putting an end to the blood sport in the state by 2029. A report by the Parliamentary Budget Office released this week revealed that the same decision in Victoria would save our state almost half a billion dollars over 10 years. These figures do not even factor in emergency support payments just to keep Greyhound Racing Victoria operational, like the $3 million payment granted to them last year despite the fact that they ran at a $23 million loss. Why does the minister continue to subsidise greyhound racing in Victoria despite widespread community opposition?

Lizzie BLANDTHORN (Western Metropolitan – Minister for Children, Minister for Disability) (12:05): I thank Ms Purcell for her question. I will refer it to the Minister for Racing to get you an answer in accordance with the standing orders.

Georgie PURCELL (Northern Victoria) (12:05): Thank you, Minister, for referring that on. This decision came after the death of just one dog on the track, with Tasmania’s greyhound of the year being killed on 28 July. By comparison, this year alone the Victorian greyhound racing industry has killed 30 dogs – it was 29 when I wrote this question yesterday – and over 100 dogs have broken their legs and 103 dogs have been killed away from the track, out of public view. The Liberal Premier stated:

It’s time to draw a line in the sand and ensure an orderly exit from greyhound racing in Tasmania …

Yet our Labor government, which claims to be better on animal protection, continues to justify killing and injuring so many dogs across our state in the pursuit of gambling profits. How many dogs is an acceptable amount?

Lizzie BLANDTHORN (Western Metropolitan – Minister for Children, Minister for Disability) (12:06): Again I thank Ms Purcell for her question for the Minister for Racing, and I will refer it accordingly.

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