New Zealand has joined the growing number of countries around the world to ban greyhound racing, prompting calls for Tasmania to follow suit.
The ban was announced by Deputy Prime Minister Winston Peters on Tuesday and will see the industry shut down over the next two years.
Peters said the decision, which has been described as a “devastating blow” by the industry, was “driven by the welfare of protecting dogs”.
“Despite significant progress made by the greyhound racing industry in recent years, the percentage of dogs being injured remains persistently high and the time has come to make a call in the best interest of the animals,” he said.
Tasmanian Greens Animal Justice spokesperson Cassy O’Connor said the ban is a “major victory” for animal welfare advocates and greyhounds across the ditch.
“Aotearoa is finally bringing the suffering and cruelty of greyhound racing to an end,” she said.
O’Connor called on the Tasmanian Government to show the “same humane leadership” and end the industry, which she said relies on “a grotesque level of exploitation and public subsidy”.
“As each day goes by without taking the necessary action, beautiful, sentient greyhounds are suffering neglect, injury and early death,” she said. “It has to stop.”
In New Zealand, the ban will allow 20 months to rehome an estimated 2,900 racing dogs currently in the industry.
This would mean the last official greyhound racing event would be in July 2026, if not sooner.
