Verdict on greyhound racing industry after years-long reform
A final decision on the future of greyhound racing in South Australia has been announced after a years-long report into the industry.
The independent Greyhound Industry Reform Inspector has handed down his final report into the South Australian greyhound racing industry after a two-year reform period, with the report finding greyhound racing would continue in SA.
It also led to the state government today announcing an independent body to oversee the industry would be established.
In 2023, the state government commissioned an independent inquiry into SA’s greyhound racing industry, which was led by former Victorian police commissioner Graham Ashton, following multiple reports of greyhound abuse.
The inquiry led to 78 recommendations for change, and the industry was given until July 8, 2026, to implement all recommendations, while the state government gave the industry two years to improve standards or face a ban.
During the reform period, Greyhound Racing SA (GRSA) completed 73 of the 78 recommendations outlined in the inquiry, including implementing track safety measures through the use of double arm lures to reduce dangerous crowding and banning of surgical artificial insemination.
Greyhound Industry Reform Inspector Sal Perna told reporters on Wednesday he was “satisfied” with the greyhound racing industry’s progress in implementing reforms outlined in the Ashton Inquiry.
“There’s been changes to administration, to operation, to integrity, to race day, and a lot of them have been focused on the welfare part, which is probably the most critical one,” Perna said.
You might like
“They’ve spent a lot of money, millions, in accomplishing the recommendations that were required, and I think they’re in a much better position.
“My role was at the end of those two years to make one of two decisions: either that greyhound racing discontinue, or that it continue with an independent oversight body.”
One of the key recommendations made by Perna is the implementation of an integrity oversight body independent of GRSA.
SA is the only state in Australia that does not have its own independent oversight body, with GRSA currently acting as the self-regulatory commercial and controlling body for the sport.
Racing Minister Rhiannon Pearce said there had been “really strong opinions on greyhound racing on both sides of the spectrum”.
“If I’m being perfectly honest, I don’t think either will be particularly thrilled with where we’ve landed, but that’s probably good policy,” Pearce said.
Pearce said that there was “every intent to introduce legislation next year” to establish the independent oversight body, but was unable to provide a definitive timeframe.
“The report’s only been received today, so it would be unfair for me to give a very clear time frame other than I have every intention of legislation coming in next year. I’m taking this seriously,” she said.
Stay informed, daily
“We are the only state that does not have an integrity body, and we will be putting in action to ensure that that is addressed.”
Five recommendations, however, were not completed by the racing industry within the time frame, including GRSA’s failure to acquire standalone facilities to house greyhounds awaiting foster placement and re-homing.
Another recommendation not completed was the introduction of a cap on greyhound breeding, raising concerns from Coalition for the Protection of Greyhounds SA director Elle Trahair.
Trahair told InDaily she was “shocked but not surprised” that the industry was given the green light to go ahead.
“The way that greyhounds are bred and reared causes a surplus. Then at the back end, you’ve got hundreds waiting for homes held up in kennels for years and neglected, and that is the unseen reality of this industry,” Trahair claimed.
“It is also an industry that exploits dogs for gambling and it has a track record of abhorrent welfare up until current.”
The announcement followed calls from RSPCA SA to ban greyhound racing in May, claiming the independent inquiry to reform the industry had failed to address greyhound welfare concerns.
Race-day stewards’ reports revealed 1064 greyhounds were injured in SA last year, including 316 major injuries and five deaths.
In June, a petition with more than 11,000 signatures calling on the state government to ban greyhound racing was tabled in parliament.
Trahair said “there will never be a time when I stop advocating for the end of this industry”.
SA Greens legislative councillor Melanie Selwood said the party strongly opposed the greyhound racing industry and would continue to demand an end in SA.
“Why are we giving another chance to a cruel and archaic industry that the rest of the world is already phasing out?” Selwood said.
“We’re not just talking about one bad apple here. Animal welfare breaches are a systemic and widespread problem that have continued to happen despite the industry being under the microscope.
“More than 11,000 South Australians have signed a petition calling for this industry to end. The Malinauskas Government should not be declaring the future of greyhound racing settled while that parliamentary inquiry is still underway.”
Want to see more stories from InDaily SA in your Google search results?
- Click here to set InDaily SA as a preferred source.
- Tick the box next to "InDaily SA". That's it.
