Several independent members of Tasmania’s Legislative Council are yet to reveal how they will vote on legislation to phase out greyhound racing, ahead of a decisive vote this week.
Greens MLC Cassy O’Connor says the outcome remains genuinely uncertain, with a number of independents staying quiet.
“It’s hard to know exactly how the vote will go, because a number of independents are keeping their cards quite close to their chests,” O’Connor said.
She has urged undecided members to read an open letter signed by Tasmanians calling for an end to the industry.
“I hope they recognise that overwhelmingly Tasmanians want this industry and the cruelty that’s inherent within it to end,” she said.
RSPCA Tasmania chief executive Andrea Dawkins says upper house members should listen to their communities.
“We hope that the upper house members look deep into their hearts and think about what it is to be a dog … and to vote to phase out greyhound racing in line with the rest of the world and in line with community expectations,” Dawkins said.
Bonorong Wildlife Sanctuary director Greg Irons said polling showed 74% of Tasmanians wanted the industry ended.
“If the vote doesn’t go through there will be a fair bit of uproar,” Irons said.
Former Labor premier David Bartlett, who has been critical of his party’s support for the industry, said he was not confident wavering MLCs would shift.
“I’m really deeply disappointed that the Labor Party, after an election loss, has chosen this as an issue on which to brand ourselves because it’s been taking up a lot of the debate when there are many, many other things that the Labor Party should be attending to,” he said.
On the numbers, the Liberals’ Nick Duigan, Jo Palmer and Kerry Vincent are expected to vote yes, along with O’Connor and independent Meg Webb.
Labor’s Luke Edmunds and Sarah Lovell are likely to vote no, with Craig Farrell in the chair as president.
That leaves seven independents holding the balance: Rosemary Armitage, Ruth Forrest, Mike Gaffney, Dean Harriss, Casey Hiscutt, Tania Rattray and Bec Thomas.
The Legislative Council is expected to vote later this week.
