Protesters against greyhound racing and their rescue dogs turned up outside Tasmania’s state Labor conference on Saturday, greeting delegates with pats and conversation.
The group gathered on Liverpool Street outside the Crowne Plaza in Hobart’s CBD as Labor members arrived for the weekend conference.
Organiser Maddie Gowans said the reception from delegates was overwhelmingly positive.
“Lots of the delegates stopped to chat and they were very sympathetic to our cause,” she said.
“They loved patting the greyhounds.”
Gowans said one senior party figure was particularly encouraging.
“One very high profile member of the party in particular went out of her way to be lovely to us and to be very open about encouraging us and saying that we will prevail with this because she said it is just cause,” she said.
“We’re very grateful to those good hearted members of the Labor Party.”
The demonstration came in a week where a push to ban greyhound racing was delayed in the Legislative Council, after the state government withdrew the bill.
The bill previously passed the House of Assembly with support from the Greens and most independents, but its fate now rests with upper house independents.
Labor has firmly opposed shutting down the industry, putting it at odds with the Liberal government, which backs an end to greyhound racing.
Advocate and former TV newsreader Peter Gee said Saturday’s “greyhound love in” was a deliberate change of tone.
“Rather being harangued or chanted at, attendees were simply invited to say hello to, pat or be leaned on by, as greyhounds are want to do, the more than a dozen representatives of this gentle and loving breed,” he said.
Gee said it was clear a good proportion of Labor members were at odds with their party’s opposition to the ban.
Protesters against salmon farming also turned up outside the venue, waving flags and placards urging Labor to “save the skate” and “no fish farm” over fears the industry threatens the survival of the maugean skate.
Inside the conference, Labor leader Josh Willie used his address to attack 13 years of Liberal government and lay out his vision for education.
“After 13 years of Liberal Government, Tasmanians are paying the price for their waste with cuts,” Willie said.
He committed to five days of kinder in every Tasmanian public school and universal access to preschool for three-year-olds.
Willie also took aim at cuts to TAFE, saying the Liberals had slashed 12 courses last year and were now cutting another $45 million.
“Nearly half of Tasmania’s TAFE students come from the most disadvantaged communities,” he said.
“That means when the Liberals gut TAFE, they’re taking away opportunities from the Tasmanians who need them the most.”
