Reuben Cunningham Advocate

09/05/2026

Premier,

Your statement about ending funding for greyhound racing in 2029 raises several important questions that Tasmanians deserve answers to.

Firstly, 2029 is still years away and depends entirely on future governments, future Parliaments and future election outcomes. No Premier can realistically guarantee what another government may or may not support years down the track.

Secondly, if the Tasmanian Government intends to stop supporting local greyhound racing, will it also stop accepting revenue connected to interstate greyhound wagering?

Because if Tasmania continues receiving Point of Consumption Tax revenue and other wagering-related income linked to greyhound racing conducted on the mainland, then many people will see a major contradiction in the government’s position.

You cannot publicly condemn the local industry while still benefiting financially from the exact same activity occurring elsewhere.

If greyhound racing is considered unacceptable in Tasmania, then how is it acceptable to continue profiting from interstate greyhound racing through taxation revenue?

And if the issue is truly about government funding, then why should participants be prevented from pursuing independent or alternative operating models without taxpayer support?

Many participants feel this is no longer simply about funding or reform, but about the deliberate removal of an entire industry regardless of whether viable alternatives exist.

Tasmanians deserve honesty and clarity about the real long-term intention behind these decisions.

08/05/2026

This issue spans multiple governments and multiple ministers — not just one side of politics.

According to the 2025 coronial findings, concerns about the retention of human remains were known within Tasmania following the Walker Inquiry in the early 2000s, yet “no action was taken.”

At that time, Tasmania was under a Labor government and the Health Minister was Judy Jackson.

Then in 2016, the curator of the R.A. Rodda Museum reportedly raised serious concerns about retained human remains and specimens within Tasmania’s health system, triggering formal investigations and bringing the issue back into focus.

At that time, the Health Minister was Michael Ferguson.

He was later followed by:

* Sarah Courtney
* Jeremy Rockliff

What many Tasmanians are now asking is simple:

If the Walker Inquiry in New South Wales raised national concerns around retained organs and human remains, why didn’t Tasmania follow through with the same level of auditing, investigation and transparency that other states undertook?

The coronial findings reportedly state there was no comprehensive audit process carried out in Tasmania after those warnings emerged.

Why not?

If ministers and departments were aware there were possible issues, then due diligence should have focused on families first — identifying remains, auditing records, notifying affected relatives and making sure no family was left in the dark.

Instead, families were left waiting years for answers.

That is why serious questions now need to be asked, and why Right to Information requests should be pursued to establish:

* what ministers were told,
* what departments knew,
* why no comprehensive audit occurred,
* and why Tasmania failed to follow the path other states had already started after the Walker Inquiry.

Because this is not about protecting governments or political reputations.

It is about dignity, respect, accountability — and whether families were failed when they deserved honesty the most.

08/05/2026

Animal welfare concerns and neglect statistics exist on both sides of the greyhound racing debate, because sadly there are people who mistreat animals whether they are racing dogs or household pets, and the only real solution is stronger animal welfare laws and tougher penalties so those who abuse or neglect animals are held fully accountable.”

07/05/2026

Premier Jeremy Rockliff looks like he’s clutching at straws by trying to send the greyhound racing bill back to committee after the review was already completed and the debate was already underway, as he appears desperate to secure the magical eighth vote needed to pass the bill.” — Source: ABC Ne

07/05/2026

Back in 2016, Mike Baird acted after serious welfare concerns were raised within the greyhound racing industry. Strong reforms and regulations were introduced as a result.

Since then, the industry has operated under far tougher oversight, stricter welfare standards, integrity measures, and increased accountability.

People can debate whether the ban itself was the right decision, but it’s also fair to acknowledge that change happened because issues were identified and addressed.

06/05/2026

WHY I’M NOT POLITICAL — AND NEVER WILL BE

People ask me all the time where I sit politically.

The answer is simple — nowhere.

I’m independent, and that’s not by accident.

Back in 2011, I started Angel’s Hope. I sat down with Michael Ferguson at the time, and like a lot of people do, I was told, “we’ll help you however we can.”

That help never came.

Everything my daughter, my family and I achieved through Angel’s Hope was done on our own. No political backing, no handouts — just hard work, cost, and commitment.

One of the biggest things we helped achieve was contributing to a change in legislation so that inciting su***de became a criminal offence.

That didn’t come from government support — that came from persistence.

That taught me something I’ve never forgotten:

Don’t rely on government words. Watch what they do.

That’s stayed with me ever since.

It’s why I speak up now — whether it’s greyhounds, the stadium, or the recent issue with human remains.

I don’t pick sides. I pick what I believe is right.

On greyhounds — I don’t believe banning is the answer.

On the body parts issue — I don’t accept the word “retention.” Human remains were kept without consent. In plain terms, they were stolen. That’s the reality, and that’s why I’m speaking up.

And I’ve put that clearly in a formal submission going to the Minister — asking the hard questions, including why families weren’t told when the government knew.

Same with the stadium.

People know I’m against it — not because of politics, but because of the cost and how it’s been handled. It feels like the public has been railroaded, and that’s not right.

We should have had a team years ago — but that doesn’t mean we accept anything at any cost now.

That’s how I operate.

If I believe in something, I’ll act on it.

I don’t care what party is in power. I don’t care who agrees or disagrees.

I care about doing what’s right for humanity — and sometimes that doesn’t appease everybody, but I can live with that.

Always have. Always will.

06/05/2026

06/05/2026

Wow this is such a shock. I thought it was only greyhound owners or greyhound Trainers that had major problems. It seems that that even pet owners have major issues.

We have a very sad tale for you today.

This is Marshall. He has been horribly let down by many of the humans in his life. His first pet owner (not a racing owner or GAP adoptee) starved him. When Marshall entered our care via a pound, he was severely emaciated and it took many months for us to get him well enough for adoption. Then his second owner abandoned him at another pound instead of returning him to us when they could no longer care for him.

This poor, poor dog.

But still, look at the love and trust in his eyes. He hasn’t given up on people, and we won’t give up on him.

His next home must be his forever home. He must be treated with all the love and kindness he deserves. He must never know hunger or loneliness again 😢.

Can you promise him that? If so please give us a call on 57990166 to meet him. He’s at our Tullamarine kennels (Melbourne, Australia) and we want so badly to find him the person who will reward his faith in humans.

06/05/2026

Wow and they call that transparency ,what about prior years

05/05/2026

Man up and make the call Premier