Tasmania's Racing Minister Works to Pass Greyhound Racing Ban Amid Cost Concerns

Tasmania's new racing minister is said to be working "diligently" to get a ban on greyhound racing through parliament, as some racing participants express interest in the compensation scheme to leave the industry by the end of the year.

In April, the government deferred debate on legislation to ban greyhound racing when it appeared to be headed for defeat in the Legislative Council.

The government has said the bill will only go back to the upper house when it has the numbers to pass.

The three government MLCs, the Greens' Cassy O'Connor and independent Meg Webb have all confirmed they would support the bill.

Since April, independent Clare Glade-Wright has been elected to the upper house, and has confirmed she would also vote in support of the greyhound racing ban.

That gives the bill six of the eight votes it needs to pass.

Independents Tania Rattray and Casey Hiscutt were planning to vote against the bill when it was before the Legislative Council in April, while fellow independent Bec Thomas spoke unfavourably about it.

With Labor opposed to the ban, the government would need the vote of at least two of the other independents — Ruth Forrest, Mike Gaffney or Rosemary Armitage.

A parliamentary committee, which had previously recommended the bill be passed with amendments, is doing further work following a request from Mr Rockliff.

That work includes examining:

Other jurisdictions' work to phase out greyhound racing.

The financial, economic and animal welfare impacts of the proposed phase out in Tasmania.

The future of the Tasmanian racing deed.

While the committee recommended the ban be supported, two members, Labor's Dean Winter and Ms Rattray, both signed dissenting statements.

It is expected the committee's work will be finished by October.

On Saturday, government minister Jo Palmer said Racing Minister Roger Jaensch — who was appointed to the role in June — had been "quite diligent in ensuring that he's communicating with those in the Legislative Council who still have questions about this piece of legislation".

"That work is ongoing," Ms Palmer said.

Racing participants express interest in leaving industry

While the legislation remains stalled, the government is pushing ahead with its proposed voluntary exit scheme, which will offer financial assistance and support to anyone who leaves the racing industry by the end of this year.

Tasmanian Racing Integrity Commissioner Sean Carroll said his office had so far received 13 submissions from participants asking for further information or expressing interest in the scheme.

"My office continues to consult directly with participants and stakeholders to understand individual circumstances and inform the development of the scheme," Mr Carroll said in a statement.

According to information received by the Tasmanian Greens last month in response to questions asked during budget estimates hearings, there were 765 dogs in the state's greyhound racing industry.

The figures also showed there were 125 registered trainers in Tasmania, but a quarter of those do not have a dog registered to them, and 40 per cent of the greyhounds were registered to just 10 trainers.

A greyhound racing ban came into effect in New Zealand on Saturday, with chartered flights bringing up to 150 dogs from New Zealand to Australia where they will be able to keep racing.

The Tasmanian government said it did not expect any New Zealand dogs to come to Tasmania given the impending ban.

Even without the legislation, Mr Rockliff has indicated the government would still end the industry by stopping its funding when the current deed expires in 2029.

But he said the legislation would provide for an "orderly transition to support animal welfare, support the dogs and support the industry".

Questions over cost

Labor's racing spokesperson, Dean Winter, on Saturday reaffirmed his party's opposition to banning greyhound racing.

Mr Winter also said it was unclear how much the phasing out of greyhound racing would cost.

"What is the compensation going to be, how much is it going to cost Tasmania's budget that is already in all sorts of trouble," he said.

The government has budgeted $4.6 million for "greyhound racing transition" over the next four years, but Labor has concerns the cost of rehoming greyhounds will cost far more than that.

"To my knowledge the only modelling that's been done is for 1,000 greyhounds and if you were to rehome them under the model that New Zealand's taken, it would cost Tasmanian taxpayers around $40 million," Mr Winter said.

Mr Rockliff said "the figures put forward by the national greyhound industry and indeed Dean Winter are fanciful".

"We will work with the industry, we have a budget that has been outlined in terms of compensation and transition."