While Tasmania moves to ban greyhound racing outright, the New South Wales Government has released a damning 700-page report outlining systemic issues in its greyhound industry.
❌Poor performance
The report details how Greyhound Racing New South Wales has poor personnel management, “high and wasteful” spending, and has failed to maintain tracks at safety standards.
In fact, not a single track in the state meets the required safety standards.
🛬 Revelations
Dogs are also dying while being “rehomed” to the United States, with some arriving dead in their crates after the plane journey.
And these are just three issues. The report spans over 700 pages and suggests 65 ways the industry could be improved for both the dogs and the people involved.
✉️ Government response
The NSW Government has largely ignored most of the recommendations, tweaking only a few measures and instructing the industry to do better.
Just two weeks out from Christmas, the government released the inquiry, originally submitted in August by acting Greyhound Welfare and Integrity Commission head Lea Drake, along with its response.
This includes plans to increase oversight of industry-run rehoming programs, improve reporting on greyhound death numbers, and update internal policies.
🎉 Is it a win?
Politicians are presenting the response as a win, but critics say it falls short.
Key recommendations that were ignored include ending overseas “rehoming” programs, appointing a new greyhound racing industry inspector to oversee both GRNSW and the Greyhound Welfare & Integrity Commission, and suspending the industry if minimum track standards are not fully implemented by the end of next year.
The minister responsible called these timelines “unrealistic.”
🐕 Concerns from the ground
Trisha Murphy, founder of greyhound rescuing and rehoming organisation Hounds in Homes, told the National Account recent reforms are not the massive changes they are being portrayed as.
Murphy explained that more adopters are trying to surrender greyhounds obtained through the industry-run Greyhounds as Pets (GAP) program because the dogs’ needs were not properly explained, only to be told GAP will not take them back.
🤝Will it end?
Trainers are now directing these dogs to small volunteer groups, adding pressure to already-stretched rescues while the industry’s underlying problems remain unresolved.
Murphy described the industry as “built on corruption and gambling, with the dogs coming second.”