Victorian Clubs' CEO confronts Tasmanian Premier over Greyhound Racing backflip

Victorian Clubs' CEO confronts Tasmanian Premier over Greyhound Racing backflip

Brett Jones, Greyhound Clubs Victoria CEO warns that Premier Rockliff's decision will devastate jobs, communities, and the welfare of greyhounds across Tasmania

Readers of this story in the UK and Ireland may be thinking that the events out in Tasmania, Australia, literally on the other side of the planet, will have no effect on racing in either country, or it's not our problem, but if you sit back and think about things, it really could.

It's fair to say that the UK, England in particular, have had their fair share of sporting rivalries with the Aussies over the years. There are the years of Ashes highlights with the Cricket, and who can forget Johnny Wilkinson's drop goal to win England the Rugby World Cup back in 2002. Even more recently, we've seen the British and Irish Lions come on top in their tour of Australia

But those rivalries can be set aside now in greyhound racing and we look to come together with our Australian counterparts. With the threat of greyhound racing ending in Tasmania by 2029, there would have to be the chance that other political parties could also repeat these actions in other states across Australia.  But then, whose to say it will stop there. On seeing these actions, we could see the anti greyhound fraternity crawling out from under the woodwork trying to get greyhound racing banned not only in Ireland, but also in England, so it is important to keep readers across the UK and Ireland informed with what is happening out in Australia

Trainer claims sport is a "scapegoat"

A decision to ban greyhound racing in Tasmania within five years has left industry participants "devastated", and prompted one trainer to claim the sport is a "scapegoat" in a minority government's cling to power. 

The move has been celebrated by animal welfare advocates and a number of newly elected Tasmanian crossbenchers, but has been criticised by incoming Shooters, Fishers, Farmers MP Carlo di Falco, the state's first MP from the party. 

The decision comes as the minority Liberal government works to retain its hold on power, ahead of a motion of no confidence when parliament returns on Tuesday.

Speaking to ABC SPORT @abcsport,  greyhound trainer, owner and breeder Robyn Johnson said the industry was "just devastated".

"We're all just really … filthy and angry," Ms Johnson said.

She said participants were blindsided by the decision, as the premier had written to the industry backing it in, just weeks ago.

"There was nothing said in the election [or] in pre-election promises," Ms Johnson said.

Ms Johnson said in the letter from the premier, directed to the North West Greyhound Racing Club, Mr Rockliff wrote the government was committed to "support the longevity and sustainability of the racing industry". 

On Sunday, Hobart Greyhound Racing Club chair, Stephen Lockley said he was "devastated" by the move after half a century in the industry.

Ms Johnson believes many Tasmanians made their minds up about the industry through information found on social media.

"I'd like to see people who don't like greyhound racing come to the meeting. Come up here, come down and have a conversation. Meet our dogs, meet us,"she said. 

"We consider there's a lot of intelligent people around, but they're all very happy to run with the information that's been put up on social media. 

"How many of them have actually been to a race meeting, had a talk to a trainer, had a talk to a re-homer? How many have actually come and seen the industry, and the [animal welfare] changes?"

Politics again plays a huge part in this decision, just as it did with the decision to ban greyhound racing in Wales

The number of visits that were made to the Valley Greyhound Track by ministers to hear from the owners and staff.

None

The number of visits that Huw Irranca-Davies made to the Valley Greyhound track to hear from trainers, owners and staff.

None

The number of visits that were made to greyhound trainer’s premises in Wales by ministers to hear from trainers, owners and staff.

None

The number of visits that Huw Irranca-Davies made to greyhound trainer’s premises in Wales to hear from trainers, owners and staff.

None

Therefore, the Welsh Government themselves have now confirmed everything that greyhound racing fans already feared – that in-depth research was not carried out ahead of the ban and this appears to be the case in Tasmania as well.

But just as Greyhound Racing UK did with the Wales situation, Tasmanian's and Australian's in general are fighting back. None more so than Greyhound Clubs Victoria, Australia's biggest greyhound racing state. Their CEO Brett Jones has penned a fantastic Open Letter to the Tasmanian Premier Jeremy Rockliff, who made the recent decision to end the funding for greyhound racing in Tasmania by 2029, essentially phasing the sport out. 

On the back of this Open Letter, Premier Jeremy Rockliff issued the following statement on his X account

It may well be a long battle, but there is no doubt that the people of Australia, Tasmanian's in particular, will be up for the fight, and we at Greyhound News UK and Greyhound Racing UK, will be in full support