Labor MP Ella Haddad has refused to confirm whether she personally supports the continuation of the controversial greyhound racing industry in Tasmania.
Labor are continuing to fight for the industry as the Liberals, Greens and some independents push for the code to be phased out.
Fronting the media today, Haddad would not budge when probed on her personal opinion.
Asked repeatedly whether she personally supports greyhound racing, Haddad only said she backs her party’s position.
“I support the position that we’ve taken and the party’s position hasn’t changed,” she said, saying she believed it was an “important industry”.
Haddad sits on Labor’s left faction, while Winter is aligned with the right.
The left is understood to have been pushing internally for the party to shift its position on greyhound racing
Asked whether there was internal dissatisfaction with Labor’s stance, Haddad said it was not something she could comment on “in any detailed way”.
Under Labor’s rules, MP’s are bound by decisions made in caucus and are expected to publicly support the party’s position regardless of their own view.
It is a constraint that does not apply to Liberal MPs, who are permitted to cross the floor.
Haddad’s comments come a day after Labor’s racing spokesperson Dean Winter denied rumours the party was planning to change its position.
An EMRS survey conducted 12 months ago found 74% of Tasmanians support the state government’s push to phase out greyhound racing.
When asked today whether Labor’s steadfast support of the sport is in the public interest, Haddad said the party is in tune with the community.
“We listen to our communities every single day,” she said.
Haddad accused Premier Jeremy Rockliff of breaking a promise to the greyhound industry in order to cling to power.
“He has traded away something that he promised only a few weeks before he changed his position in an exchange to keep his job as Premier and to keep his party in government,” she said.
Rockliff hit back, placing the blame squarely on Labor for blocking the phase-out.
“The only thing that is preventing the banning of greyhound racing and indeed the legislation to support the industry and animal welfare is the Labor Party, is Dean Winter and is the weak leadership of Josh Willie.” he said.
Rockliff said estimates on the cost of the phase out put forward by the national greyhound industry and Labor were “fanciful.”
“We do need to end greyhound racing in Tasmania and we will,” he said.
It comes as the government says 13 greyhound racing participants have expressed interest in its proposed voluntary exit scheme.
Former New South Wales chief greyhound racing veterinarian Alexander Brittan told a parliamentary committee earlier this week it is “simply not possible to make greyhound racing safe,” describing a mortality rate of around 30% in Tasmania.
The phase-out bill was pulled from the Legislative Council in April after the government conceded it did not have the numbers to pass.
Haddad said it was up to the premier to demonstrate he has upper house support and explain how he plans to proceed if he does not.
