Tuesday, 14 October 2025

 Georgie PURCELL (Northern Victoria) (12:26): My question is for the minister representing the Minister for Racing. Last month Greyhound Racing Victoria announced a $2 million redevelopment of the Traralgon racetrack. The track cost $5 million to build in 2022, with $3 million of that funding contributed by the Victorian government. It was described as a world first in welfare-focused design, yet within barely a year of opening five dogs were dead, and the track was rightfully closed down as a result. With another multimillion-dollar redevelopment now underway, there has been little transparency and accountability surrounding the decision-making process, including how funding priorities are determined and whether the public has been adequately informed about the justification for further investment in a facility that has already been proven to be deadly. Can the minister advise the sources and amounts of funding for the Traralgon racetrack redevelopment?

 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 her question and her interest in this matter. I do note that Greyhound Racing Victoria also have a strong partnership with me as the Minister for Corrections, but this question in particular is not about our greyhound program in our Tarrengower facility so I might refer this one to the Minister for Racing in the other place as requested. I thank you for your passion, and I am sure the Minister for Racing will respond in line with the standing orders.

 Georgie PURCELL (Northern Victoria) (12:27): Thank you, Minister, for referring that on. The tragic deaths of five greyhounds within the last seven months of the previous Traralgon track’s operation should have served as a clear warning sign about the inherent dangers of greyhound racing and the failure of so-called welfare-focused designs to protect dogs from being killed. No racetrack can be made safe. Cook Model, Atomic Jax, Udellar Bale, Booker Knowledge and Annie Coin all lost their lives as a result of this track. Given these five deaths resulted in the track being closed last time, can the minister advise how many dead dogs the government will accept in order to measure the success of the new Traralgon track rebuild?

 Enver ERDOGAN (Northern Metropolitan – Minister for Casino, Gaming and Liquor Regulation, Minister for Corrections, Minister for Youth Justice) (12:28): I thank Ms Purcell for her passion and her question in relation to this issue. I will make sure that it is passed on to the Minister for Racing in the other place for a response in line with the standing orders.