Reuben Cunningham Advocate

11/09/2026

I personally believe gambling is never going to disappear completely—the freight train left the station a long time ago.

Australians turned over approximately $283.6 billion through gambling in 2024–25 and lost nearly $33 billion. Governments also receive billions in gambling taxes that help fund public services such as hospitals, schools, education and roads, so does anyone honestly believe they are going to abandon that revenue?

Gambling can certainly be a devil, destroying individuals and families, but it was created long before my lifetime and simply pretending we can eliminate it tomorrow is not a realistic solution. We need strong harm-reduction measures, personal responsibility and support for people experiencing addiction—but selectively targeting one small part of gambling to suit a political agenda will not solve the wider problem.

If someone has a realistic plan to stop all gambling, replace the government revenue and protect every affected job and community, I would genuinely love to hear it.

Until then, let’s address the entire problem fairly—not choose one convenient target.

— Reuben Cunningham, Advocate

10/09/2026

ARE TASMANIANS SUPPOSED TO BE HAPPY WITH THIS?

TT-Line, the operator of Spirit of Tasmania, is forecast to remain in debt until 2052. That’s another 26 years.

I feel for young families and future generations of Tasmanians. Children born today could be adults with families of their own before this debt is cleared.

We need these ferries. They are essential to our state. But we also deserve answers about how this project went so far over budget and who is being held accountable.

What will this mean for future fares, public finances and the next generation?

Tasmanians deserve a clear explanation and a credible plan.

How do you feel about this?

Source: ABC News, 7 September 2026. The 2052 repayment date is a forecast.

Reuben Cunningham | Advocate

09/09/2026

Your message is ‘ban greyhound racing’, yet here you say straight-track racing would be acceptable without gambling. That’s support for racing under certain conditions. So why campaign for a blanket ban

09/09/2026

YOU BET, THEY DIE”

That’s their message—and I believe it deserves challenging.

I support greyhound racing. I also support strong welfare standards and consequences for anyone who mistreats a dog.

But judging an entire community with one slogan leaves little room for a fair discussion.

In my view, it’s just clickbait designed to get people talking.

Reuben Cunningham, advocate for greyhound racing and responsible welfare standards.

08/09/2026

07/09/2026

PLEASE SHARE FAR AND WIDE — LET’S GET THE FACTS AND FULL CONTEXT INTO THE CONVERSATION.

CAGED NATIONWIDE AND ANTI-GREYHOUND RACING SENSATIONALISM — IT’S TIME TO PUT THE CLAIMS UNDER SCRUTINY.

Yes, injuries and deaths happen in greyhound racing. Every preventable injury matters, and supporting racing does not mean turning a blind eye to welfare.

But describing the worst possible outcomes without explaining how often they occur leaves readers without essential context.

Our figures come from the NSW Greyhound Welfare & Integrity Commission’s report for 1 April–30 June 2026, while the CAGED Nationwide post shown provides no sources or reporting dates for its statistical claims.

Let’s examine what they say.

🔴 CLAIM: The primary cause of death in active racing greyhounds is severe injury sustained on the track.

OUR RESPONSE: Which country, years and population does this statement cover? Establishing the leading cause of death requires records covering all causes. Where is that evidence?

🔴 CLAIM: Fracture severity or recovery costs frequently lead to euthanasia.

OUR RESPONSE: How frequently? Where are the figures separating successful treatment, euthanasia on veterinary welfare grounds and euthanasia because of cost? These are different outcomes.

🔴 CLAIM: Up to 70–80% of fatal racing incidents occur on bends.

OUR RESPONSE: Which study supports that figure? Even if accurate for a particular dataset, it describes WHERE fatalities happen, not HOW OFTEN they happen. Readers deserve both pieces of information.

🔴 CLAIM: Collisions cause catastrophic injuries, including broken necks and spinal fractures.

OUR RESPONSE: Serious injuries can occur. But listing possible injuries does not establish their frequency. How many documented cases, over what period and across how many starts?

🔴 CLAIM: Sprinting can trigger collapse, seizures and severe muscle breakdown.

OUR RESPONSE: “Can happen” does not mean “commonly happens”. Please provide the veterinary evidence and recorded frequency of each condition.

🔴 CLAIM: Racing in elevated temperatures frequently causes heat stress, hyperthermia and rapid organ failure.

OUR RESPONSE: “Frequently” needs supporting data. What temperatures and how many documented cases? Heat stress and organ failure are different outcomes and should be reported separately.

🔴 CLAIM: Historical culling and retirement-related euthanasia remain a global concern.

OUR RESPONSE: Historical wrongdoing deserves scrutiny. But historical claims across different countries do not establish how widespread a practice is in Australia today. Show the current, local evidence.

📊 HERE IS SOME MEASURABLE CONTEXT.

For NSW, from 1 April to 30 June 2026, the regulator reported:

• 24,276 race starts.
• Five racing-injury deaths or euthanasias at the track — approximately 0.021% of starts.
• Three additional deaths away from the track linked to injuries at race meetings, reported separately.
• 59 serious Category F injuries, including the five track fatalities — approximately 0.24% of starts.
• 858 recorded injuries across all categories — approximately 3.53% of starts.

Source: NSW Greyhound Welfare & Integrity Commission, Analysis of Greyhound Racing Injuries, 1 April–30 June 2026.

These are NSW figures for one quarter, measured per race start. They are not national figures, an individual dog’s lifetime risk or a complete account of off-track welfare. The same dog can race multiple times.

Low percentages do not erase individual suffering. Equally, graphic descriptions do not establish that catastrophic outcomes are commonplace.

I support transparent reporting, proper veterinary care, injury prevention, responsible rehoming and accountability for mistreatment.

CAGED Nationwide is entitled to oppose greyhound racing. The public is entitled to scrutinise its claims.

SHOW THE SOURCES. SHOW THE DATES. SHOW THE FREQUENCY. SHOW THE FULL CONTEXT.

Follow Reuben Cunningham, Advocate.

07/09/2026

Injuries can happen wherever there is physical activity. Human athletes are injured, working animals are injured, and even much-loved family pets can be injured while running or playing.

That does not mean any injury should be ignored. Every injury matters and should be properly treated, investigated and, wherever possible, prevented.

But the discussion must be based on the complete facts—not the claim that every injury automatically proves cruelty.

During Tasmania’s three-month reporting period, there were 2,928 greyhound race starts, 51 reported injury incidents, and zero deaths or euthanasias at the track.

Judge the evidence fairly. Demand strong welfare standards, proper care and continued improvement.

06/09/2026

Greyhounds are among Australia’s most criticised dogs—yet they are also among the most regulated.

They are microchipped, tattooed, registered and tracked. Their identity, transfer history and responsible owner can be investigated.

Meanwhile, many other dogs are euthanised in Australia every year because shelters lack funding, space or suitable homes. Where is the same public outrage and demand for greater funding and accountability?

This is not about blaming hardworking shelter staff. It is about asking where our priorities lie.

If every dog’s life truly matters, then every preventable death should matter—not only those that suit a particular political campaign.

Why is one group of dogs constantly targeted while countless others disappear almost unnoticed?

Where is the fairness?

— Reuben Cunningham, Advocate