About / Greyhound Reform

In February 2015, the media exposed serious animal welfare breaches and industry corruption in the NSW greyhound industry. The revelations surrounding the practice of live animals being used to train greyhounds shocked the general public. Five registered trainers were immediately stood down and the then board of the governing body, Greyhound Racing NSW (GRNSW), was disbanded.

The public outcry prompted the NSW Government to establish a Special Commission of Inquiry into the Greyhound Racing Industry in NSW, conducted by former High Court Judge the Hon Michael McHugh AC QC. The Special Commission of Inquiry investigated animal rights abuses in the greyhound industry and made recommendations on its findings. The Commission of Inquiry’s report (the McHugh Report) raised serious concerns relating to the management and governance of the greyhound industry. The report recommended the government consider whether the industry had lost its social licence and should no longer be permitted to operate in NSW.

The Greyhound Industry Reform Panel

After the Special Commission of Inquiry, a Greyhound Industry Reform Panel was established to provide recommendations on potential new animal welfare and governance arrangements to reform the industry. The reform panel made 122 recommendations. A key recommendation was to separate the commercial and regulatory functions carried out by GRNSW. GRNSW would retain the commercial arm, while a Greyhound Welfare and Integrity Commission would be established to administer regulatory functions including greyhound welfare and industry integrity.

Select Committee on the Greyhound Welfare and Integrity Commission

This inquiry was established on 23 September 2020 to inquire into and report on the Greyhound Welfare and Integrity Commission as the independent regulator of the greyhound industry in New South Wales.

Further information can be accessed here.

A progress report can be accessed here.