I have been advised by the Office of Racing Integrity that following a comprehensive investigation, a Tasmanian greyhound trainer has been banned for life due to using an animal product to train a greyhound.
Stewards had determined that an animal skin had been used to train greyhounds.
The Hodgman majority Liberal Government has zero tolerance for such an abhorrent approach to animal welfare. The vast majority of greyhound trainers and owners treat their dogs with enormous care so it is important breaches by the very small minority are investigated and acted upon.
As a result of the recommendations of the 2016 Joint Select Committee on Greyhound Racing in Tasmania, our Government acted swiftly, introducing stricter penalties, including mandatory lifetime bans, for offences involving live baiting or the use of animal products.
Tasmanian Local Greyhound Racing Rule 36.10 stipulates that any licensed person found to be using any part of an animal to train greyhound be disqualified for the period of their natural life. This is a far stricter penalty than the national rules and reflects our zero tolerance approach.
I commend the Office of Racing Integrity and its stewards for the work they have undertaken on this case.
I want to emphasise the vast majority within Tasmania’s greyhound racing industry follows the rules and treat their dogs with the best possible care.