A state's greyhound racing community is "on edge" ahead of a vote on whether to ban the sport, saying proposed compensation doesn't go far enough.
Tasmanian parliament's upper house is expected to this week vote on legislation to phase out the industry by mid-2029.
The bill, put forward by the governing minority Liberals, sailed through the state's lower house but the outcome in the independent-dominated upper house is uncertain.
The ACT is the only Australian jurisdiction to have stopped greyhound racing - a short-lived ban in NSW announced in 2016 was overturned.
The debate has ramped up in the days before the vote, with more than 1000 prominent Tasmanians signing an open newspaper letter pushing for an industry ban.
Signatories included former premiers, Liberal Will Hodgman and Labor's David Bartlett, as well as actors including Bonnie Sveen and Luke McGregor.
The government's proposed $4.8 million compensation package for greyhound racers has been lashed by industry as inadequate and lacking detail.
Premier Jeremy Rockliff has been accused of selling out after writing a letter of support for the industry before the July election.
He announced the ban in August during minority government discussions with a progressive crossbench.
"It's not a position we’d thought we'd find ourselves in after a letter from the premier confirming his full support in the code," Greyhound Tasmania's Ben Englund said.
"Everyone is a bit on edge. It’s pretty clear Tasmanian participants are going to be ripped off."
The open letter says the industry, which has about 1000 participants in Tasmania, has lost its social licence, noting recent bans in Scotland, Wales and New Zealand.
In 2025, 287 greyhounds were injured in Tasmania and two died, according to data accumulated by the Coalition for the Protection of Greyhounds.
An independent report in 2025 said the sport appeared to be declining in the state, noting falling race attendances and wagering amounts.
Mr Englund doesn't believe greyhounds have lost their social licence.
"To me it's a made up term for left-learning socialist and extremists that want to twist and turn every argument into an emotional battle," he said.
"Over the last five years our injury rates have improved by 25 per cent."
Undecided upper house independent Rosemary Armitage wants to see a broader inquiry into the industry and questioned whether there is enough evidence to warrant a phase-out.
"It is possibly the most difficult decision I've had to make," she told ABC radio on Tuesday.
"We all love our animals. Some people do the wrong thing … but there are also good people in the industry."
The 2029 phase-out date coincides with state government funding for the sport expiring.
The state's Labor opposition, which is backing the industry, has three MPs in the 15-seat upper house. There are three Liberals, eight independents and one Green.
