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To Tasmania’s premier Jeremy Rockliff,

Greyhound Racing Victoria and the thousands of participants in this state are standing beside the entire Tasmanian greyhound racing industry today, following your sudden and inexplicable withdrawal of support for our wonderful sport in your state.

Three weeks ago, you pledged your unqualified support to all three racing codes, including greyhound racing, because you knew how much work has been done by TasRacing to make greyhound racing in your state as safe as it has ever been.

And just 21 days later, you have reneged on that promise, putting your personal ambition above the livelihoods of hundreds of greyhound racing participants in Tasmania who love and care for their greyhounds.

To cave in and side with those who want to ban everything based on no facts is both soul-destroying and incredibly disingenuous for those who believed your previous commitments. How can the rank-and-file have any faith that you will do what’s in their best interests?

Greyhound racing is a thriving sport – we’re seeing that here in Victoria – and that’s because across Australasia, our racing bodies and participants are investing millions of dollars and time and effort into the continuous improvement of both welfare and integrity outcomes for our beloved greyhounds, while also ensuring those greyhounds become the pet of choice for thousands of Australians when they retire.

It is an industry, a lifestyle and a passion for thousands of Australians which provides at least 460 full-time equivalent jobs and generates an annual economic contribution of no less than $60 million in your state alone. The effects of your short-sighted withdrawal of support, however, will ripple and reverberate across a country where more than 14,500 full-time equivalent jobs are sustained by greyhound racing and nearly $2.5 billion is contributed to state and territory economies annually.

That’s why our industry here in Victoria and across Australia will stand side by side with our peers in Tasmania and ensure they have our full backing to fight your selfish and ill-conceived decision and ensure their future.

Peita Duncan,

Chair, Greyhound Racing Victoria