Thursday, 5 March 2026

 Georgie PURCELL (Northern Victoria) (12:12): My question is for the minister representing the Minister for Racing. In 2023 a greyhound was born without a tongue. Tongues are essential for dogs to regulate their body temperature, due to the fact that they cannot sweat. He should never have been allowed to race. Yet he was, even being given the racing name No Words. Earlier this month No Words broke his leg during a race at Shepparton. That makes him one of the over 400 greyhounds to sustain an injury on a Victorian racetrack this year. For most dogs who break a leg the future is grim, with many trainers quietly killing them away from the racetrack in the hours, days or weeks after so that they do not count towards the industry’s official death toll. Will the minister intervene and ensure that No Words is not quietly killed by Greyhound Racing Victoria?

 Enver ERDOGAN (Northern Metropolitan – Minister for Casino, Gaming and Liquor Regulation, Minister for Corrections, Minister for Youth Justice) (12:13): I thank Ms Purcell for her question and her passion on these matters. I will make sure that is passed on to the Minister for Racing in the other place for a response.

 Georgie PURCELL (Northern Victoria) (12:13): Thank you, Minister, for referring that on. A number of independent vets have warned that, without a tongue, dogs are not able to properly regulate their body temperatures. It is well known that dogs rely on panting to cool themselves down. Greyhound Racing Victoria were gambling with No Words’s life and ran the risk of him collapsing or dying from heat stress, especially in the recent summer months. It is clear that Greyhound Racing Victoria cannot be trusted, after they made a decision against this dog’s welfare and against vet advice. To ensure that it never happens again, will the minister ban any future greyhounds born without a tongue from racing?

 Enver ERDOGAN (Northern Metropolitan – Minister for Casino, Gaming and Liquor Regulation, Minister for Corrections, Minister for Youth Justice) (12:14):I thank Ms Purcell for the supplementary question. I will make sure it is passed on to the Minister for Racing in the other place for a response.