Greyhound racing ban vote down to the wire

TL;DR

Tasmania's upper house vote on phasing out greyhound racing is too close to call ahead of this week's session.
589 deaths and 23,240 injuries recorded in NSW greyhounds since that state's failed ban attempt.[[1]](https://www.themercury.com.au/news/tasmania/tasmanian-greyhound-racing-vote-hangs-in-the-balance-as-nsw-senator-weighs-in/news-story/405095921058012cfc084c34aa1f746a)
NSW Greens Senator Mehreen Faruqi weighs in with NSW welfare data to push for Tasmania's ban.[[1]](https://www.themercury.com.au/news/tasmania/tasmanian-greyhound-racing-vote-hangs-in-the-balance-as-nsw-senator-weighs-in/news-story/405095921058012cfc084c34aa1f746a)

The story at a glance

Political sources say the Tasmanian Legislative Council's vote on a bill to phase out greyhound racing is impossible to predict. The minority Liberal government under Premier Jeremy Rockliff needs support from three of five independent upper house members. A NSW Greens senator, Mehreen Faruqi, has weighed in by highlighting poor welfare outcomes in NSW since its 2016 ban backflip. This comes as debate intensifies ahead of the scheduled vote this week.

Key points

Bill would impose an immediate breeding ban and shut down greyhound racing by June 30, 2029, making Tasmania the first Australian state to outlaw it if passed.[[2]](https://www.facebook.com/pulsetasmania/posts/breaking-tasmanias-greyhound-racing-ban-bill-has-been-pulled-from-legislative-co/1592700112861064)
Political sources describe the vote as "down to the wire," depending on undecided independents who raised process concerns despite animal welfare worries.[[1]](https://www.themercury.com.au/news/tasmania/tasmanian-greyhound-racing-vote-hangs-in-the-balance-as-nsw-senator-weighs-in/news-story/405095921058012cfc084c34aa1f746a)
Senator Mehreen Faruqi cited 589 racing deaths and 23,240 injuries in NSW since 2016, plus over $200 million in taxpayer costs to support the industry.[[1]](https://www.themercury.com.au/news/tasmania/tasmanian-greyhound-racing-vote-hangs-in-the-balance-as-nsw-senator-weighs-in/news-story/405095921058012cfc084c34aa1f746a)
Government offers $4.8 million in compensation to industry participants for a dignified exit, far below the $125 million sought.[[3]](https://www.facebook.com/KrisJJohnston/posts/the-tasmanian-government-will-set-aside-48-million-to-compensate-greyhound-racin/1366586732187437)

Details and context

The ban forms part of the Liberal minority government's deal with Greens and crossbenchers to secure power after the 2024 election. It passed the lower house easily but faces a tougher test in the independent-heavy upper house.

NSW's 2016 ban attempt failed after industry pressure, leading to resumed racing with heavy subsidies and the welfare stats cited by Faruqi. Tasmania hopes to avoid that path amid global declines in greyhound racing, including recent bans in New Zealand, Wales, and Scotland.

Independents like Ruth Forrest voiced concerns over rushed process, lack of industry consultation, worker impacts, and dog welfare during transition.

Key quotes

Senator Mehreen Faruqi: since the NSW greyhound racing ban failed a decade ago, it has cost taxpayers “more than $200 million in public money while [greyhounds suffered].”[[1]](https://www.themercury.com.au/news/tasmania/tasmanian-greyhound-racing-vote-hangs-in-the-balance-as-nsw-senator-weighs-in/news-story/405095921058012cfc084c34aa1f746a)

Why it matters

A yes vote would mark Australia’s first state ban on greyhound racing, setting a welfare precedent amid national scrutiny of the industry’s costs and cruelty claims. It directly affects Tasmanian trainers, breeders, workers, and dogs, with limited compensation offered for the phase-out. Watch for government efforts to sway independents, as debate was deferred this week to mid-May, leaving the outcome uncertain.[[4]](https://www.abc.net.au/news/2026-04-16/tasmanian-greyhound-racing-ban-debate-parliament/106567342)