Greyhound shame

RACING Minister Jeremy Rockliff announces blue skies for the racing industry ( Mercury, September 29). He applauds the State Government’s efforts to pour millions into the industry. But so far, the animal welfare agenda has not helped the greyhounds and, two years on, it’s business as usual at the track.

Every month, 40 greyhounds are scratched because of injury prior to a race meet. In the past nine months, six greyhounds were scratched because they were dead. In July and August, 82 greyhounds were scratched due to illness. In addition, greyhounds were taken to the track to race even though they had conditions such as diarrhoea and chilblains.

Thirty greyhounds are injured every month on the track, according to stewards reports. Seven were put down because they suffered a horrific injury while racing their hearts out, just so people could have a wager and so Minister Rockliff could boast about his welfare initiatives.

Sorry Mr Rockliff, the State Government continues to ignore the fate of the sensitive, gentle greyhounds, who continue to be abused for the sake of a few miserable dollars.

Under new plans ( Sunday Tasmanian, October 1) the Turnbull Government is considering reining in free-speaking radicals through compulsory deprogramming of their fundamentalist views and behaviour. About time, Mr Turnbull. unsustainable greed-driven expansion?

If unchecked, this self-monitored expanding industry will destroy the “clean, green and pristine” image that tourists come here to engage with. Tourism is the largest private employer of Tasmanians by a long way. It is long overdue for the Tourism Industry Council to stand up and be counted.