Tasmania’s shadow racing minister has supported South Australia’s decision to keep greyhound racing, drawing criticism from Greens MLC Cassy O’Connor.
The South Australian Government yesterday backed the industry, while Tasmania’s bill to end greyhound racing remains stalled in the Legislative Council.
South Australia accepted its greyhound industry reform inspector’s recommendation that racing continue, with a new integrity body to oversee animal welfare.
The inspector’s final report found Greyhound Racing SA completed 73 of the 78 recommendations it was responsible for during a two-year reform period.
In a post on X yesterday, Dean Winter welcomed the decision.
“It’s great to see the industry supported with appropriate integrity and animal welfare guardrails, rather than banning it in a political deal to salvage a government,” he wrote.
Speaking today, Winter said South Australia had reviewed its industry over two years before deciding it should continue.
“I think that’s a really sensible approach and one that the Liberals could have taken,” he said.
“What the Greens are advocating for is just to shut down the industry. They’re not interested in the evidence that the committee hears.”
In a further post, he criticised the premier’s handling of the issue.
“Whether you agree with greyhound racing or not, you just cannot ignore how terribly Jeremy Rockliff has treated decent people,” Winter wrote.
“He’s lied to them, betrayed them and called them thugs.”
In response, O’Connor labelled Winter “the worst political mouthpiece” the industry could choose.
She said the five key recommendations South Australia’s industry could not meet in two years “were all about animal welfare”.
They included a cap on breeding and investment in rehoming.
“People don’t want to see dogs treated like that,” she said.
O’Connor said Tasmanian Labor was divided on the issue, naming Labor MPs who she claims do not support the industry.
“We know there are kind-hearted people in the Labor Party room like Sarah Lovell and Ella Haddad who don’t support greyhound racing,” she said.
She called on them to push for a change in the party’s position.
The premier has previously said the government’s bill will not return to the Legislative Council until it has the numbers to pass.
O’Connor said the timing was a matter for the premier and the racing minister.
She said the bill would give participants a dignified exit and provide for more than 1,000 dogs to be rehomed in 2029.
