One idea would have transformed this sport. It’s been ignored

2 months ago 22

Not quite a decade ago, the NSW greyhound industry was facing oblivion. The Baird government was poised to shut it down after an exhaustive inquiry found that its integrity, governance and attitudes towards animal welfare were too bad to fix.

It was given a second chance (after an intense and damaging media campaign spearheaded by former broadcaster Alan Jones, which mortally wounded Baird) on one condition: the industry must clean itself up.

Wentworth Park greyhound racing as viewed from the Ladbrokes Sports Bar.

Nine years on, it’s bedevilled by the same problems. The difference this time is that the government doesn’t seem to care.

A new report, commissioned by Racing Minister David Harris amid a series of scandals last year and made public on Tuesday after a long delay, examined myriad failings that continue to plague greyhound racing in NSW.

There were many recommendations, but one in particular would have been transformative; Commissioner Lea Drake said the industry needed to stop breeding far more dogs than it was capable of sending into a comfortable retirement.

Many of the ongoing animal welfare issues – such as secretive euthanasia, “retirements” to a cramped industrial kennel, unnecessary deaths on an airport tarmac or in a cargo hold as part of an export program – can be traced to this imbalance.

As it is, the inquiry found Greyhound Racing NSW doesn’t know how many dogs are comfortably rehomed, nor could it explain with certainty what rehomed actually means.

Data and tracking loopholes let dogs disappear from the system to meet an unknown fate (the official vet at one track was discovered dumping dead dogs wrapped in garbage bags in an industrial bin; he was disqualified for 12 months).

The industry’s licence to keep operating should hinge on breeding caps, Drake said.

“In my view, racing may continue with breeding capped at a level that produces a number of retired racing greyhounds that are able to be adopted (not ‘assisted to pet life’, but ‘adopted to a couch’) in Australia (and preferably in NSW),” she wrote.

The Minns government chose to ignore that recommendation, listening instead to the industry’s argument that without “clear evidence in support” of such a reform, it should not be attempted. Instead of broaching brave, thoughtful reforms that might balance industry viability with increasing community concerns, it fussed around the edges.

The industry was not only happy with the “sound” recommendations; it was emboldened to go on the attack.

“We’re not happy with the way the government has treated the industry,” said GRNSW chief executive Steve Griffin, pointing to the “paltry” $10 million it was given after the government decided not to renew the lease on its little-used Wentworth Park track in Glebe (a decision GRNSW had already factored into its planning), and repurpose the land for community use.

The government might be happy with what it sees as a win-win; it gets Wentworth Park, and the greyhound industry need not be bothered with meaningful reform. But it’s just kicking the can down the road.

Pressure will continue to build. Internationally, the greyhound business is becoming extinct. New Zealand and even Tasmania are now winding it down. As Drake said, greyhound racing might be keeping its operating licence, but it is at risk of losing its social one, defined as that fine balance between an industry’s value and its potential harms.

“We’re seeing an industry that is at the crossroads – in decline – and does not meet community expectations any more,” said Tasmanian (Liberal) Premier Jeremy Rockliff.

Only five countries still allow commercial racing. Australia, with almost 60 per cent of the world’s commercial tracks, is fast becoming the epicentre of a gambling-focused sport that is stretching community tolerance.

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