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Robyn Johnson is heavily involved with the greyhound racing industry and says its end will impact many Tasmanians. (ABC News: Ebony ten Broeke)<\/p>\n
On Tuesday, he confirmed legislation would also be introduced in parliament to ban it.<\/p>\n
Greyhound racing to end in Tasmania, as premier cites welfare concerns<\/a><\/p>\n The Tasmanian government will end its funding for greyhound racing in the state by 2029.<\/p>\n The move has been celebrated by animal welfare advocates and a number of newly elected Tasmanian crossbenchers,<\/a> but has been criticised by incoming Shooters, Fishers, Farmers MP Carlo di Falco, the state’s first MP from the party.\u00a0<\/p>\n The decision comes as the minority Liberal government works to retain its hold on power, ahead of a motion of no confidence <\/a>when parliament returns on Tuesday.<\/p>\n The Tasmanian government says animal welfare will be at the forefront of the industry’s phase out. (ABC News: Scout Wallen)<\/p>\n Speaking to ABC Radio Hobart, greyhound trainer, owner and breeder Robyn Johnson said the industry was “just devastated”.<\/p>\n “We’re all just really \u2026 filthy and angry,” Ms Johnson said.<\/p>\n She said participants were blindsided by the decision, as the premier had written to the industry backing it in, just weeks ago.<\/p>\n “There was nothing said in the election [or] in pre-election promises,” Ms Johnson said.<\/p>\n “There was nothing and all of a sudden our industry has just become the scapegoat \u2026 no consultation, nothing.” Ms Johnson says the industry has become a “scapegoat” amid the uncertainty of the recent election. (ABC News: Ebony ten Broeke)<\/p>\n Rockliff’s signature ‘isn’t worth a penny’, trainer says<\/p>\n 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”.<\/p>\n “His signature isn’t worth a penny,” Ms Johnson said.Funding of ‘very unpopular’ greyhound racing questioned<\/a><\/p>\n Tasmanian government funding of the state’s greyhound racing industry is rising faster than its spending on education, according to a new report finding $74.6 million has been poured into the sector over the past five years.<\/p>\n On Sunday, Hobart Greyhound Racing Club chair, Stephen Lockley said he was “devastated” by the move<\/a> after half a century in the industry.<\/p>\n Ms Johnson believes many Tasmanians made their minds up about the industry through information found on social media.<\/p>\n “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.Loading…<\/p>\n “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.\u00a0<\/p>\n “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?”<\/p>\n In 2023, the Johnsons’ kennels came under scrutiny from animal welfare activists.<\/a> Her husband, Gary Johnson, at the time defended his operations and practices.<\/p>\n Community expectations ‘changed’, premier says<\/p>\n On Tuesday, Mr Rockliff again backed in his government’s decision.<\/p>\n Loading…<\/p>\n “We did commit to the racing industry more broadly, but we need to fully understand and appreciate that community expectations have changed,” he said.<\/p>\n Mr Rockliff confirmed the government would be moving legislation to ban greyhound racing in the state, making Tasmania the second Australian state or territory to do so, behind the ACT.<\/a><\/p>\n “This is not just a withdrawing of funding. The industry will not exist by 2029,” he said.<\/p>\n Mr Rockliff acknowledged many in the industry would be “extremely disappointed”.<\/p>\n “But we need to understand that this is an industry that is in decline,” he said.<\/p>\n “The fact is, Tasmanian people do not like greyhound racing.”<\/p>\n Support needed for the transition<\/p>\n The industry’s transition will be overseen by a parliamentary committee, with support and advice from Racing Integrity Commissioner Sean Carroll.<\/p>\n<\/p>\n
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