Work on more than half of the 83 recommendations made in the Tasracing-commissioned Animal Welfare Review by Dr David Sykes are either underway or have been completed, Tasracing says.
Chief Veterinary and Animal Welfare Officer Dr Martin Lenz said all recommendations had been carefully assessed and timed for implementation based on welfare priorities.
“As a result, work has commenced on 44 of the recommendations with five further recommendations having already been implemented,” he said.
“Of the balance remaining, four have been deferred and work will soon commence on all 30 of the remaining recommendations.
“The work to implement all the recommendations will be completed according to the implementation timetable.
“Updates on the implementation will be provided to industry and the Tasmanian community at regular intervals.”
Tasracing CEO Andrew Jenkins said the report was commissioned to allow an independent assessment of Tasracing’s and the broader industry’s welfare-related programs.
“While Dr David Sykes said at the time the report was provided that we should be very pleased with the current state of play, we are committed to implementing his report’s recommendations,” he said.
“Both Tasracing and the industry recognise the need for there to be a consistent welfare focus.
“The commissioning of the report in the first place, together with implementing its recommendations after the report was received, is the perfect example of this.”