U.S. lawmakers urge Australia to ban greyhound racing amid welfare concerns; Tasmania phases out by 2029. Global trends signal end to cruel industry-impacts on dogs and economies.
Trans-Pacific Pressure Mounts: U.S. Lawmakers Demand Australia End Greyhound Racing Now:
A bipartisan coalition of over a dozen U.S. state legislators fired off an open letter in May 2025 to Australian politicians, pressing for a nationwide end to greyhound racing amid mounting evidence of injuries, deaths, and welfare abuses. The move spotlights Australia’s lagging reforms, where the industry still thrives in most states despite scandals, while the U.S. has shuttered all but one track. As Tasmania forges ahead with legislation to wind down operations by 2029, this trans-Pacific plea amplifies calls for change, potentially saving thousands of dogs from exploitation in a sport increasingly viewed as outdated and cruel.
With greyhound racing contributing millions to economies but costing billions in subsidies and ethical fallout, the letter underscores a tipping point: Public sentiment is shifting, and governments risk backlash by propping up an industry plagued by high injury rates and overbreeding.
May Letter Sparks Shift: Tasmania’s Phase-Out Plan and the Global Push to End Greyhound Racing:
The push began in May 2025 when U.S. lawmakers, in collaboration with animal welfare advocates, released an open letter detailing the dramatic decline of greyhound racing in America. They highlighted closures driven by voter initiatives and legislation, emphasizing how states have redirected resources to more humane economic alternatives. The letter specifically called on Australian counterparts to address similar issues, noting thousands of greyhound injuries and hundreds of deaths reported yearly in Australia.
In August 2025, Tasmania’s Premier Jeremy Rockliff announced his government would cease funding for greyhound racing, effectively phasing it out by June 30, 2029. This followed a decade of advocacy and came amid political negotiations to secure minority government support. Legislation, the Greyhound Racing Legislation Amendment Bill 2025, was introduced in November 2025 and passed the lower house in December 2025 after heated debates.
Reducing race meetings gradually, rehoming programs for dogs, and support for affected workers. Tasmania joins the Australian Capital Territory, which banned racing in 2018, as the second jurisdiction to commit to an end. Meanwhile, other states continue operations, with New South Wales reversing a 2016 ban after industry lobbying.
Globally, momentum built with New Zealand’s December 2024 decision to phase out by July 2026 and Wales’ February 2025 announcement to follow suit. These developments have fueled Australian campaigns, with polls showing 57-60% public support for bans in various states.
From Boom to Backlash: The Greyhound Racing Reckoning in Australia and Beyond:
Greyhound racing arrived in Australia in the 1920s, peaking in popularity mid-century but facing scrutiny since the 1980s over welfare. A 2015 Four Corners exposé revealed live baiting scandals, leading to temporary bans in New South Wales and the Australian Capital Territory. New South Wales reinstated racing in 2016 under stricter regulations, but critics argue reforms fall short.
In the U.S., the industry collapsed from over 50 tracks in 2001 to just one in West Virginia by 2025, thanks to ballot measures in states like Florida (2018) and Arkansas (2020). Economic factors-declining attendance and gambling revenue-combined with welfare campaigns from groups like GREY2K USA drove the shift.
Australia’s industry handles about 20,000 greyhounds annually, with official data showing 2,500 injuries and 200 deaths on tracks each year, plus thousands euthanized off-track due to overbreeding. Subsidies exceed $500 million yearly, dwarfing profits and sparking debates on taxpayer value. This isn’t just about dogs-it’s a litmus test for animal rights in gambling-dependent sectors, influencing policies on horse racing and beyond.