ANOTHER session of Parliament has passed and thoroughbred industry stakeholders in Queensland are disappointed that they didn’t receive an update on progress implementing recommendations the Racing Review.
While Racing Minister Tim Mander took the blowtorch to the Labor Party over whether they supported greyhound racing, nothing more was said about plans for a Commissioner of Stewarding since Kim Kelly departed QRIC or other important aspects of the Government’s plans for the industry under ‘The Next Lap’ proposals.
Perhaps that will be more forthcoming at next month’s sitting of Parliament because this one focused on the attack on where Labor sits on the future of greyhound racing in Queensland.
Here’s the Hansard transcript of yesterday’s debate:
Hon. TL MANDER (Everton—LNP) (Minister for Sport and Racing and Minister for the Olympic and Paralympic Games): The motion on (Wednesday night) on greyhound racing raised more questions about the Labor Party’s position on the future of greyhound racing than answers. We had the Shadow Minister kicked out of the Parliament. We had the Shadow Sports Minister give a rambling discourse. It was entertaining but rambling.
Opposition members interjected.
Mr DEPUTY SPEAKER (Mr Kempton): The Member is not taking interjections. Let us hear this in silence, please.
Mr MANDER: There is confusion about the position of the Member for Ipswich, who has for a number of years said that she has campaigned against greyhound racing. I will refer to the Brisbane Times article from 1 August 2026 that I tabled (on Wednesday night). Cameron Atfield is the journalist. It reads—
Ipswich MP Jennifer Howard was one of hundreds to attend a rally in support of a greyhound racing ban at Brisbane’s Queens Park on Saturday.
It continues—
Howard said she never supported the Purga track and had spoken out against it when it was first proposed.
I remember her doing that. It continues further—
Later, Howard told the crowd claims The Q would be a safe greyhound track were ‘a lie’.
The person who made such a claim was then Minister Grace Grace. She said that the track was safe. The Member for Ipswich is questioning that particular claim made by then Minister Grace Grace.
The Member for Ipswich was also quoted as saying that she hoped her party would ‘take that position to the next Queensland election, to be held in 2028’.
Not only did she make those statements, as reported in the Brisbane Times; she also backed them up by sponsoring a petition that was posted on 24 July which calls to ‘phase out greyhound racing in Queensland now’.
The Member had the opportunity last night to have the courage of her convictions and vote against the motion. It leaves us, and I imagine the people in the greyhound industry, wondering where the Member for Ipswich stands. She is from an electorate where there are many people associated with greyhound racing. Where does the Labor Party stand with this?
At this weekend’s Labor Party conference they have two opportunities. The first opportunity is for the Member for Ipswich to push for the motion that she is in support of, which is a ban on greyhound racing. The Opposition Leader and the Shadow Minister could put it to bed by moving a motion to support the greyhound industry. Which one is it?
