Tasmanian greyhound industry wrongdoers are on notice, Racing Minister says
Tasmanian Racing Minister Jeremy Rockliff said the state's greyhound racing industry was on notice, as the Government gave in-principle support to a parliamentary inquiry into the sport after concerns about live baiting.
Last month, the Government launched a review into animal welfare standards in the industry after the ABC aired footage of live animal baiting at interstate facilities.
Tasmania's chief veterinary officer and the director of racing are conducting the review.
"There are many good people within the greyhound racing industry... but live baiting simply cannot be tolerated," Mr Rockliff said.
The Greens have been calling for a beefed-up approach through a joint house parliamentary inquiry, saying there was evidence of live baiting in Tasmania.
Greens MP Cassy O'Connor said she spoke Mr Rockliff on Friday and he promised the Government would give in-principle support for a parliamentary inquiry.
"This is a significant step forward for animal welfare in Tasmania," she said.
"A joint house inquiry will put the spotlight on the greyhound racing industry certainly in the past couple of weeks.
"I'm sure many members of Parliament will have been flooded with hundreds of emails from concerned Tasmanians".
'Tasmanians share everyone's disgust'
Mr Rockliff said if live baiting was occurring it would be revealed and dealt with.
"We need to get to the bottom of this issue and examine it very thoroughly," he said.
"All Tasmanians share everyone's disgust in what is a horrific practice in live baiting.
"It is illegal, disgusting and totally unacceptable, and if it is occurring at all in Tasmania then we need to get to the bottom of it."
The Minister said he had no evidence that live baiting was occurring in the state but he wanted to make sure.
"There's certainly no evidence that it is occurring however we cannot be complacent," he said.
"I've said before that we'll leave no stone unturned with respect to this matter."
The General Manager of Tasmania's RSPCA, Peter West, welcomed the news.
He said since the ABC's Four Corners program went to air, the organisation had received reports of live baiting in Tasmania.
"We've been investigating those cases... there haven't been all that many and we certainly urge any Tasmanian with any knowledge of anything to do with animal cruelty to call our hotline," he said.
The findings of the initial review are due on March 13.
Mr Rockliff said those findings would inform any subsequent inquiry.
