IN a fiery debate in the Queensland Parliament on Wednesday, Racing Minister Tim Mander questioned whether the Labor Party supported the future of greyhound racing.
Mander moved that ‘the House supports the long-term future of the greyhound racing industry in Queensland.’
The Minister said greyhound racing contributed $350 million to the Queensland economy and employed nearly 2,000 people. He added that arund 4,500 people regard themselves as greyhound owners.
‘Traditionally, greyhound racing has been regarded as the racing code for the working class. That is what makes it so puzzling to work out where the Labor Party sits with regard to its support of greyhound racing.
‘The question of this motion is: Does the Labor Party support the future of greyhound racing or not?
‘On one hand we have the Shadow Minister, who was the architect and the commissioner of the
construction of The Q, who during estimates argued strongly for the greyhound track to be rebuilt at
Bundaberg.
‘That is a commitment they failed to keep themselves, giving false promises to the community, but we have come through to save the racing track there. The Shadow Minister is arguing for greyhound racing.
‘On the other hand, we have the Member for Ipswich, who has been actively campaigning against greyhound racing, hoping that the 2028 election platform for the Labor Party will include a ban on greyhound racing. She criticises…‘
Ms HOWARD: Mr Speaker, I rise to a point of order. I take personal offence. It is not true and I
ask that he withdraw.
Mr SPEAKER: The Member has taken personal offence.
Mr MANDER: I withdraw and I table the Brisbane Times newspaper article, which includes
quotes from the Member for Ipswich talking about how she wants greyhound racing—
Article from the Brisbane Times, dated 1 August 2026, titled ‘Labor MP urges Parliament to back greyhound racing ban’ was tabled.
Mr Bleijie interjected.
Mr MANDER: I am going to get to that stage—banned.
Mr de BRENNI: Mr Speaker, I rise to a point of order. In relation to the withdrawal from the
Minister. He withdrew and then attached the word ‘and’ and then sought to prove the point. I understand there are rulings that consider that not to be an unqualified withdrawal and I would ask you to instruct the member accordingly.
Dr ROWAN: Mr Speaker, I rise to a point of order. The Minister for Racing, the Member for
Everton, made an unqualified withdrawal and then he tabled a document to which he then referred in
relation to direct quotes from the Member for Ipswich as I understand it.
Mr SPEAKER: That is what I understood. Would you make the withdrawal again and the apology
please?
Mr MANDER: I withdrew. The Member is quoted in the article as saying that anybody who said
that The Q was a safe track was telling a lie. The person who said The Q was a safe track was the
Minister at the time, Grace Grace.
Ms HOWARD: Mr Speaker, I rise to a point of order.
Mr SPEAKER: I will make my point of order first. There was unparliamentary language. I ask
you to withdraw that, please, Minister.
Mr MANDER: I withdraw.
Ms HOWARD: Mr Speaker, I take personal offence. It is not true and I ask that he withdraw it. It
is not true; what he said is not true.
Mr Bleijie: It’s quoted.
Mr SPEAKER: Hold on. I am going to take a bit of advice.
Ms HOWARD: I ask him to withdraw.
Mr Bleijie: Did you withdraw your quote from the paper? Did you tell the journos to withdraw
your quote from the paper?
Mr SPEAKER: Deputy Premier, my tolerance is very low. Minister, you might have been giving
a direct quote, but the member has taken offence and it has always been the tradition to withdraw.
Mr MANDER: I withdraw. This article has at least four or five statements attributed to the Member
opposing greyhound racing. There is no doubt about that. She attended a rally. Does she have the
courage of her convictions to vote against this motion or will the Opposition Leader or the Shadow
Minister campaign at the Labor Party conference this weekend to support the greyhound racing
industry? We support the greyhound industry. We support all three codes of racing. If the Member
believes that I am misrepresenting her views she has every opportunity to get up and explain what she
said. These are direct quotes that she opposes greyhound racing. What do the opposition leader and
the Shadow Minister believe?
EDITOR’S NOTE: The debate did not continue because ‘time expired’. We wonder if that was why Shadow Minister Grace Grace had nothing to say on the issue.
