New figures show 125 people are licensed to train greyhounds in Tasmania, with a quarter of them having no dogs in their care.
The Greens obtained the data through questions on notice during budget estimates.
Greens MLC Cassy O’Connor said the numbers showed it was a “marginal” industry.
“It is not a major industry. It is not a major employer. It is very marginal and it relies on taxpayer subsidies,” O’Connor said.
The figures show 765 greyhounds are registered to race. Of those, 40% are registered to 10 trainers.
Fewer than 30 trainers hold two-thirds of the racing dogs, while one trainer has 81 in his kennels.
“What we know is that a small number of people are putting a large number of dogs at risk of serious injury, harm and even death,” O’Connor said.
The data counts only licensed trainers. It does not include breeders, owners or other licence holders.
The state government plans to end funding for greyhound racing in 2029, but the phase-out bill has stalled in a Legislative Council inquiry.
Premier Jeremy Rockliff has said the funding will stop that year regardless of whether the bill passes.
Labor remains the only major party backing the industry.
O’Connor, echoing comments made by Rockliff yesterday, said Labor was “standing in the way” of the industry’s phase-out.
Labor leader Josh Willie said his position had not changed, arguing racing creates jobs and many Tasmanians rely on it for a living.
He said animal welfare was “a serious issue”.
“The Labor Party supports the three codes of racing, just like the Labor Party does in every other state,” he said.
“It’s Premier Rockliff that went to the election last year promising to support all three codes and now he’s throwing one under the bus.”
