Eslake Report Confirms Greyhound Racing’s Decline

Eslake Report Confirms Greyhound Racing’s Decline

RSPCA Tasmania Calls for Urgent Action on Animal Welfare Grounds

RSPCA Tasmania welcomes the findings of Saul Eslake’s comprehensive report on the financing of greyhound racing in Tasmania, released today, which affirms that greyhound racing is a declining industry that continues to raise serious animal welfare concerns while receiving substantial public funding.

The report underscores a long-standing truth: greyhound racing in Tasmania cannot be justified on economic, social, or ethical grounds.

“This report validates what we, and the community, have been saying for years,” said RSPCA Tasmania CEO Andrea Dawkins. “Greyhound racing in Tasmania is propped up by taxpayers while putting the welfare of animals at risk. The community expects better, and it’s time for government policy to catch up with public sentiment.”

Mr Eslake’s analysis highlights multiple inquiries—legislative, regulatory, and independent—that have raised repeated concerns about the treatment of greyhounds in the racing industry. These concerns are echoed in RSPCA Tasmania’s own report, Improving Welfare Outcomes for Tasmanian Greyhounds (2024), which calls for stronger regulation, greater transparency, and a transition away from state-sponsored racing altogether.

Eslake’s findings show:

• Widespread public opposition: Only 11% of Tasmanians support the greyhound racing industry, while 62% are opposed.
• Minimal community participation: Just 1% of Tasmanians attended a greyhound racing event in the past year.
• Declining animal use: The number of races and race starters has steadily fallen.
• High taxpayer cost: The industry receives nearly $7.5 million in annual public subsidies—more per capita than any other state or territory in Australia.

“In an era where ethical use of public funds matters more than ever, continuing to invest in an industry that endangers animals and lacks public support is indefensible,” Ms Dawkins said. “The time has come for a managed, compassionate phase-out of greyhound racing in Tasmania.”

RSPCA Tasmania urges the Tasmanian Government to:

• Commit to ending public funding of greyhound racing when the current funding deed expires in 2029.
• Invest in rehoming, retraining, and welfare support programs for greyhounds affected by the industry’s decline.
• Strengthen oversight and enforcement of welfare standards during the transition.

As the Eslake report makes clear, the so-called “industry” is in terminal decline. “We have a rare opportunity to make a meaningful and ethical change for animals,” Ms Dawkins concluded. “Let’s act decisively and ensure that the welfare of greyhounds is no longer compromised in the name of sport.”