Advocates for animal welfare have escalated their campaign against greyhound racing by releasing a harrowing video compilation of serious injuries and deaths on Tasmanian tracks.
The footage, described by activists as ‘horrific scenes of animal cruelty,’ has been compiled to challenge the industry’s claims of safety and to support the Rockliff Government’s recent phase-out of the sport.
The video highlights incidents that the Coalition for the Protection of Greyhounds (CPG) claims have been removed or edited from official race footage. Among the most tragic scenes is the death of the prominent greyhound ‘Raider’s Guide’, whose recent fatal broken neck was an apparent key factor in the state government’s decision to ban the sport.
Amy MacMahon, president of the CPG, stated that the video serves as irrefutable evidence of the industry’s inherent dangers.
“The agonies and deaths of these beautiful dogs is unacceptable in today’s society,” she said.
“No dog should have to die to increase the profits of multinational betting firms.”
The new footage and CPG’s report come as the racing industry mounts a vocal campaign to reverse the government’s decision. Industry figures are reportedly fighting back, deploying what MacMahon called “the usual false mantras of ‘we love our dogs’ and ‘greyhound racing is safe’.”
One Tasmanian trainer, who is also involved in a pet food abattoir next to her greyhound kennels, has been speaking to the media as part of this counter-campaign.
The CPG has backed up its video evidence with stark statistics from Australian tracks.
Greyhounds can run at speeds exceeding 70km/h, and racing injuries are a frequent occurrence. So far in 2025, 79 dogs have been killed on Australian tracks, and dozens more have died from their injuries after races. On average, 30 greyhounds are injured on tracks across the country every single day.
Data from Tasracing’s own annual reports for the financial years 16/17 to 23/24 reveals a total of 1,115 greyhound deaths in the state. The current Tasmanian injury rate is reportedly higher than New Zealand’s, where greyhound racing is also being phased out.
MacMahon directly called out the industry’s pushback, highlighting what she sees as its hypocrisy.
“No true dog lover would expose their companion to the dangers of the racetrack.
No dog lover would discard their pet after it stopped earning money, which is the fate of most industry greyhounds,” she asserted.
She also took aim at other states for supporting the Tasmanian industry, noting that Greyhound Racing Victoria and Greyhound Racing NSW have expressed solidarity.
“In Victoria, the deadliest state, 29 dogs have died on the track this year, while NSW has the highest injury rate in Australasia,” MacMahon concluded.
“The hypocrisy of the racing industry is breath-taking.”
Warning distressing footage: Link to lethal tracks video here.
Media release – Steve Griffin CEO, Greyhound Racing NSW, 11 August 2025
GREYHOUND RACING NSW SHOWS SUPPORT FOR TASMANIAN INDUSTRY – GRNSW
Greyhound Racing NSW (GRNSW) chief executive officer Steve Griffin has voiced his disgust at the industry being used as a “political football” with the weekend’s announcement that the Tasmania Government will cease funding their local industry in 2029.
Newly re-elected Tasmanian Premier Jeremy Rockliff announced it was: “time to draw a line in the sand and ensure an orderly exit from greyhound racing in Tasmania,” and that the Tasmanian Government would cut public funding by June 30, 2029.
His announcement comes just three weeks after publicly stating his Government was “committed to supporting the longevity and sustainability “of the racing industry.
Media reports have suggested Mr Rockliff is trying to secure the support of crossbenchers after failing to win a majority at last month’s election, with the Greens – which hold five seats – and an independent having advocated for the banning of greyhound racing.
“We are pretty disgusted and quite sick of politicians treating our sport as a political football,” Griffin said.
“Here’s just another example of politicians playing around with our sport. The lesson from the past is if you kick a sport like ours, you’ll get something back, and we’ll stand very firmly alongside Greyhound Racing Tasmania to make sure we can get this decision overturned.
“This is just political expediency and politicians looking after themselves and we’re just sick of it.
“As a sport, why do we have to get dragged into these things and get treated like second class citizens? It’s just a joke. I’m not sure when politicians are going to learn that we are just not going to put up with this stuff.
“The majority of Australians believe in a fair go. Sports like ours have been working hard and doing really well over the last ten years to improve welfare and improve the sport, and time and time again we get kicked by these politicians who want to treat us like a political football, and we’re just over it.
“You talk to anyone any participant throughout Australia and they’re all upset today. “Here we go again. Another politician using us as a political football,” they are all saying.
“This has just got to stop and we are sick of it.”
Tasmania, like all States over the past decade, has worked extensively on welfare and safety and their figures in the arena vindicate that work. In 2016-17, 15 greyhounds died from 12,724 starters, representing 1.18 greyhounds per 1,000 starters – the standard industry metric.
The number peaked in 2018-19 when there were 18 deaths from 12,642 starters, but since then it has reduced dramatically to just two deaths from 11,927 starters or 0.17 per 1,000 so far this year.
A recent report into the industry also showed that the economic impact of greyhound racing in Tasmania is around $61 million and that the industry supports 460 full time jobs in Tasmania.
“Like all in this industry we know the importance of welfare, it is paramount, and the figures clearly show that Tasmania has worked very hard on the issue,” Griffin said.
“But again, this is about politics not welfare reforms and the significant changes to the industry, and we again all suffer.
“I have reached out to our counterparts in Tasmania and offered our full support and reaffirmed that Greyhound Racing NSW will stand beside them and work closely with them to have this abhorrent decision reversed.”
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