Greyhound Racing

The Hon. T.A. FRANKS (15:07): I seek leave to make a brief explanation before addressing a question to the Minister for Sustainability, Environment and Conservation, or whoever is representing that minister in this chamber, on the topic of euthanasia rates of greyhounds in this state.

Leave granted.

The Hon. T.A. FRANKS: Members would be aware that today the news came from New South Wales that the greyhound racing industry is to be shut down in that state from next year. We also had another good call in this state, with the announcement today, that under the new Dog and Cat Management Act we will see reduced euthanasia rates of dogs and cats and, indeed, an eradication of puppy farms, through new measures introduced in this state.

I cannot help but reflect that, while we are reducing the numbers of dogs and cats in this state that are unnecessarily euthanased if they are pets, we continue to see with greyhound racing, and, in particular, Greyhound Racing SA—as was disclosed in an internal memo dated April 2015 issued between Greyhound Racing SA and Greyhound Racing Australasia that was uncovered and then published by the very special commission of inquiry in New South Wales into greyhound racing that today saw the demise of the industry in that state—that:

the industry is responsible for the unnecessary deaths of between 13,000 and 17,000 healthy greyhounds each year;

rehoming programs sponsored by the industry, inclusive of Greyhound Racing SA's GAP program, rehome only 6 per cent of pre-raced and retired greyhounds;

7,000 greyhounds per year do not make it to the track (that is 40 per cent of all greyhounds whelped); and

it was noted in that internal memo, signed off by Matt Corby of Greyhound Racing SA, that, 'The culture of the industry is defined by animal deaths being acceptable and necessary and where profits come before welfare.'

My questions to the minister and, indeed, to this government are:

1. What number of greyhounds designed for racing are euthanased in this state each year?

2. If you do not have an answer, why do we not know?

3. Will you support an inquiry to ensure that those figures become transparent?

The Hon. K.J. MAHER (Minister for Employment, Minister for Aboriginal Affairs and Reconciliation, Minister for Manufacturing and Innovation, Minister for Automotive Transformation, Minister for Science and Information Economy) (15:09): I thank the honourable member for her questions. On behalf of the relevant minister—I am not sure whether it's the Minister for Environment, Sustainability and Conservation or perhaps the Minister for Racing, but I will pass those questions on to the relevant minister and make sure a reply is brought back to the honourable member