Tuesday, 9 September 2025

Greyhound racing

Georgie PURCELL (Northern Victoria) (12:24): (1042) My question is for the minister representing the Minister for Racing. Last month the Victorian Racing Tribunal handed down a decision for a greyhound trainer who left a dog in a kennel with a broken leg taped up with electrical tape. His penalty was nothing more than a warning-off period, which prohibits him from racing. But because he retired in the time between the incident and the VRT hearing, this means he received no punishment at all. When I highlight the fact that racing greyhounds are exempt from Victoria’s Prevention of Cruelty to Animals Act, GRV often write to me claiming that stewards have powers under the laws and are able to provide Animal Welfare Victoria with a brief of evidence if they believe there have been breaches of POCTA. So how many times has this happened and have charges ever been laid?

Enver ERDOGAN (Northern Metropolitan – Minister for Casino, Gaming and Liquor Regulation, Minister for Corrections, Minister for Youth Justice) (12:25): I thank Ms Purcell for her question and her passion in relation to these matters. In line with the standing orders I will make sure that is passed on to the Minister for Racing in the other place for an appropriate response.

Georgie PURCELL (Northern Victoria) (12:25): Thank you, Minister, for referring that on. This cruelty happened in January 2024, but the Victorian Racing Tribunal hearing did not occur until August 2025. There has been a consistent 12- to 18-month backlog of VRT cases over recent years, and it only continues to grow. Under the rules of racing, trainers with charges laid against them can continue to race dogs even when accused of doping, drugging and offences of cruelty, and even the individual dogs these charges have been laid for can continue to race. There have been several instances where these dogs have since died while racing during this wait period, and there is clearly no deterrent for bad behaviour when participants know they can continue to make money off their dogs, even if they have charges laid against them. What is the minister doing to address the Victorian Racing Tribunal backlog?

Enver ERDOGAN (Northern Metropolitan – Minister for Casino, Gaming and Liquor Regulation, Minister for Corrections, Minister for Youth Justice) (12:26): I thank Ms Purcell for that supplementary question, and in line with the standing orders I will make sure to seek a written response from the Minister for Racing in the other place.